Latham is pleased to announce their second annual 1L Fellowship Program for the summer of 2016. Applications are available starting December 1 at www.lw.com/1LFellowship and are due January 11, 2016.
As a leading global law firm serving a worldwide client base, Latham is committed to having a diverse workforce comprised of lawyers from varied backgrounds and cultures, with different ethnicities and sexual orientations. The 1L Fellowship Program offers a unique summer employment opportunity for students who have just finished their first year of law school to gain valuable professional experience, mentoring and training early in their careers. Latham & Watkins seek students who are committed to promoting inclusion and diversity in the legal profession and who also possess a long-term interest in practicing law in a global law firm.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Professional Experience
One of the primary benefits of this unique program is the opportunity to gain both valuable law firm experience and a thorough understanding of an in-house legal department’s business operations. To that end, 1L Fellows will participate in the program for a total of ten weeks during the summer of 2016 ($3,080/week), with the first five or six weeks spent in one of our U.S. offices and the remaining portion of the 10 weeks spent with one of our clients. During the selection process, Latham will match 1L Fellows with one of our participating clients. Successful participants in the program will be invited to return to the firm, for a minimum of eight weeks, the following summer.
Mentoring
1L Fellows will be partnered with a Latham mentor who will serve in this capacity throughout the remainder of the 1L Fellow’s time in law school. The mentor will assist in acclimating the 1L Fellow to the firm, serve as a resource for professional development and advice more generally and provide an opportunity for the 1L Fellow to develop professional relationships at the firm outside of the formal supervisor/supervisee structure.
Training
1L Fellows will participate in Latham & Watkins extensive training and development programs, including the popular Summer Academy. Going into its 18th year, Latham’s Summer Academy brings together 1L Fellows, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity interns and summer associates from around the firm.
Diversity Leadership Academy
1L Fellows will also be invited to attend Latham’s second annual Diversity Leadership Academy, held on April 1-3 in San Francisco. This event will bring together Latham attorneys from around the globe, 1L Fellows and talented law students from across the United States, with a specific focus on developing and empowering future leaders of the legal profession and creating community among our diverse lawyers, recruits and 1L guests. Students are invited to apply to attend the Diversity Leadership Academy regardless of whether they apply for the Fellowship Program. www.lw.com/DiversityLeadershipAcademy
Selection Criteria
The application process is open to all first-year law students, regardless of race, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability or any other characteristic or condition protected by applicable law. A selection panel consisting of Latham attorneys will evaluate all applications, considering the factors below:
- Academic and leadership achievements
- Obstacles, challenges or other factors (financial or otherwise) encountered in advancing career objectives
- Life experiences that have shaped values and professional goals
- A desire to practice at a global law firm
- Demonstrated commitment to promoting inclusion and diversity in the legal profession
- Long-term interest in practicing law in one of our U.S. offices
The online application will open on December 1, 2015 and can be found at www.lw.com/1LFellowship or www.lw.com/DiversityLeadershipAcademy for the Diversity Leadership Academy only. Applications are due January 11, 2016.
Note: applicants that seek to apply to both the 1L Fellowship Program and Diversity Leadership Academy need only complete the 1L Fellowship Application and select to apply to both programs.
