Career Development Office Blog

Baker Donelson is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where the individual differences among us are understood, respected, appreciated and recognized as sources of strength of the Firm. These qualities enrich the environment in which we work. With this in mind, Baker Donelson will again award three scholarships to diverse law students who will complete their first year of law school by June 2014.

Recipients will be awarded a six-week, salaried 2L Summer Associate position for the summer of 2015 in one of the Firm’s offices.  Additionally, each recipient will be awarded $10,000 which will be paid prior to the student’s third year of law school to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses.

For complete eligibility criteria, instructions, and to apply for the Scholarship Program please visit the website. 

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Helen Beasley.

The Weil 2L Diversity Fellowship is available to students who are enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and intend to practice law in a major city of the United States in which Weil has an office.  Eligible students must have successfully completed their first year of a full-time JD program, with an expected graduation date of spring 2016, and may not be the recipient Weil’s 1L Diversity award or a similar 2L scholarship award from another law firm.

Weil will be accepting applications from potential Fellowship candidates from June 1, 2014 through July 15, 2014. An internal selection panel will evaluate all applications, considering such factors as overall commitment to diversity, work experience and academic achievement. Finalists will also be interviewed for the Fellowship after applications are submitted. The winner(s) will be announced in September 2014.

Weil 2L Diversity Fellows will receive a gift of a $10,000 non-renewable scholarship for their third year of law school (2015-2016), which is contingent upon accepting an offer of summer employment at Weil. The Firm expects to award up to two scholarships for the 2015-2016 law school year.

The Weil 2L Diversity Scholars Program application is available to apply online for students interested in applying for the 2L Fellowship. The application process is open to all law school students who fulfill the fellowship’s eligibility requirements.

Application:

To be considered for the Weil 2L Diversity Fellowship Program, please click here to complete and submit an online application.

Your completed online application package must include the following items:

• Resume
• Unofficial or Official Law School Transcript
• Personal Statement (no more than two (2) pages, double spaced)

Please note, while a law school transcript is required, some schools will not release first year grades by the application deadline.  Please include the grades you have at the time of submission; you may update your online application by following the link you will receive in a confirmation email upon submission.

It is not necessary to apply to the summer associate program separately; this completed application denotes consideration for the entire summer program/scholarship package.  In your personal statement, please discuss how you will contribute to diversity in the legal profession generally, including (to the extent applicable) such factors as:

• Ability and commitment to contribute to the diversity objectives of global law firms
• Life experiences that have shaped your values and that provide you with a unique perspective, including any obstacles or challenges you overcame in choosing or pursuing law as a profession
• Academic and/or leadership achievements
• Desire to practice in a global law firm environment

To view website, click here.