Smith Anderson Does More Than ‘Talk the Talk’: Announcing a Unique Diversity Fellowship Opportunity for First-Year Law Students

Smith Anderson is debuting its Excellence in Diversity 1L Fellowship program for first-year law school students who have demonstrated their commitment to diversity and inclusion and are interested in practicing law in the Research Triangle region.

The fellowship gives law students the opportunity to work at the largest law firm headquartered in the Research Triangle region as a fellow and summer associate for up to two summers, with the prospect of a full-time associate position after graduation. This program combines a traditional law firm summer associate experience with working in an in-house corporate law department of a Smith Anderson client.

Fellows are paid salaries consistent with other summer associates and are awarded a scholarship of up to $20,000. The firm is currently accepting applications and applicants who are invited to interview will be notified one week after the application deadline of January 7, 2022.

One fellow annually will be selected and will spend five to seven weeks participating in Smith Anderson’s summer associate program in the firm’s Raleigh office and up to three additional weeks with an in-house corporate legal department, for a total fellowship of eight to 10 weeks. Fellows will be paired with a mentor and will have the opportunity to work on challenging legal assignments and learn from both the outside and in-house counsel perspectives.

The fellowship is open to first-year students who are enrolled full-time at ABA-accredited law schools who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion through their activities, background and life experiences, as well as members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession, including first-generation college students and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Smith Anderson is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within our firm, the legal profession and the greater business community. As a law firm with a significant public profile for 109 years, we recognize that we play a pivotal role as a voice of change and influence within the legal profession and the community. At the heart of Smith Anderson’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts is the firm’s belief that D&I means celebrating the variety of experiences and backgrounds that make for a stronger internal culture, while better reflecting the communities and clients we serve. Smith Anderson seeks to attract, develop and retain attorneys who share this commitment and who demonstrate the potential to make a positive contribution toward diversity and inclusion in the places we live and work.  

For more information and how to apply for the fellowship, click here and select "Law Students" towards the bottom.