Last summer, a record 24 law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies provided summer employment and valuable legal experience to 25 first-year minority law students.
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December 2004
Jan. 28 application deadline
2004 a record-breaking year for Minority Clerkship Program
Last summer, a record 24 law firms, corporate
legal departments, and government agencies provided summer employment
and valuable legal experience to 25 first-year minority law students.
The State Bar Committee to Encourage the Placement of Minority
Lawyers, a subcommittee of the State Bar Diversity Outreach Committee,
sponsors and administers the Minority Summer Clerkship Program to
promote placing minority students in settings where they traditionally
have been underrepresented and assists employers interested in
diversifying their legal staff. Now in its 11th year, the program has
provided first-hand experience in corporate, private, and governmental
offices to more than 165 students.
"Many firms and organizations are long-time program participants,"
says Program Chair Jamila Covington. "In 2004, we increased
participation with seven new employers, enabling us to offer more
first-year law students an educational and `real-world' experience and
an opportunity to develop their legal skills and acquire substantive
legal knowledge. Employers benefit by working with talented individuals
from diverse backgrounds with unique perspectives."
Marquette and U.W. law school minority students who have successfully
completed their first year may apply. After a rigorous application,
interview, and selection process, the committee matches students with
employers. Employers agree to accept a student match and to hire a
program student on the same terms as first-year summer associates -
providing the same salary, work experience, and social
opportunities.
Employers can enroll through Jan. 28. For more information, contact
Covington (414) 271-5000; or
project coordinator Patricia
Morgan at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6107, (608) 250-6107.