Job Description
The Future Talent Program features internships that last up to 12 weeks and will include one or more projects. These opportunities in our Support Functions division can provide you with great development and a chance to see if we are the right company for your long-term goals.
The Corporate Transactions Legal Team is seeking two interns who are current 1L law students who will have completed one year (1L) of law school by Summer of 2026 and will be returning to law school in the Fall of 2026 for their second (2L) year. The position will be located at our corporate headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey. The Company currently uses a hybrid work model, with 3 days a week in office.
The Corporate Transactions Legal Team is within the Office of General Counsel organization. The Office of General Counsel is responsible for helping the Company succeed in a manner that is responsible and consistent with the company's values and high ethical standards, complies with the law, and protects and enhances our reputation and other assets. The Corporate Transactions Legal Team provides legal support for business development, licensing, research collaboration, mergers and acquisitions and other complex commercial transactions, real estate matters and employee compensation and benefits legal support.
Up to two internship positions with the Corporate Transactions Legal Team are available in Summer 2026. During your internship appointment you will work closely with experienced business development and transactional attorneys on projects with key tasks that may include the following:
- Working closely with attorneys on agreements related to the acquisition of assets to support the Company's mission to find the best science to meet major unmet medical needs of patients
- Working closely with attorneys on agreements supporting the development of the Company's products and the acquisition of products and services in connection with such development activities
- Working closely with attorneys on legal matters related to employee benefits and other corporate matters
- Supporting projects for direct and indirect procurement functions and global real estate services
- Working closely with attorneys to support transactions led by the Company's Corporate, Research Laboratories, Global Human Health, Manufacturing, Vaccines and Animal Health Divisions, including performing due diligence activities
- Assisting in drafting and negotiating clinical trial, investigator/consultant, research collaboration, data/material transfer, nondisclosure, procurement, license and other agreements
- Assisting with governmental filings with the competition law authorities in the U.S. and other markets
- Supporting activities to summarize/organize critical agreements and agreement provisions
- Legal research
- Travel to Company sites within New Jersey and Pennsylvania may be required.
Required Experience and Skills: - Candidates must be a Law student (full-time or part-time) pursuing a J.D. degree from an accredited law school
- Candidates will have completed their first year of law school by Summer 2026 and will return to law school in September 2026 for their second year
- Candidates must have an Undergraduate degree
Please note that this position may be closed before the posted end date or may remain open longer, at the discretion of the company. Salary range: The salary range for this role is $39,600.00-$105,500.00 USD
FTP2026
GSF2026
Required Skills: Clinical Research, Cloud Data Catalog, Data Analysis, Database Management, Data Science, Data Security, Data Visualization, Data Wrangling, Detail-Oriented, Event Planning, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Project Management, Python (Programming Language), Software Proficiency, Vendor Relationship Management
Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.
As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:
EEOC Know Your Rights
EEOC GINA Supplement
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another's thinking and approach problems collectively.
Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts
U.S. Hybrid Work Model Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as "remote".
San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status: Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)
Relocation: No relocation
VISA Sponsorship: No
Travel Requirements: No Travel Required
Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Shift: Not Indicated
Valid Driving License: No
Hazardous Material(s): n/a
Job Posting End Date: 01/15/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date. Requisition ID: R362250
Job Tags
Full time, Part time, For contractors, Fixed term contract, Summer work, Internship, Work at office, Local area, Remote work, Relocation, Visa sponsorship, Flexible hours, Shift work, 3 days per week,