Now Accepting 1L Diversity Fellowship Applications From Aspiring Attorneys!

Smith Anderson is excited to announce the call for applications for its 1L Excellence in Diversity Fellowship, an opportunity for future legal professionals to develop their skills while contributing to diversity and inclusion in the legal community and the broader business community.

The fellowship is open to first-year law students enrolled full-time at ABA-accredited law schools. Smith Anderson seeks applicants 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. Law student applicants should also be committed to practicing law in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina after graduation.

The 10-week program offers a unique fellowship experience combining a traditional law firm summer associate program with hands-on experience working in an in-house corporate legal department. The selected fellow will spend six weeks in Smith Anderson’s Raleigh office beginning in May, followed by up to four weeks in the legal department of a corporate partner located in the Research Triangle region. The program includes a mentorship pairing, allowing the fellow to work on challenging legal assignments while gaining valuable insights from both outside and in-house counsel perspectives.

The fellow will be awarded a scholarship of up to $20,000, paid as follows:

• $5,000 following the completion of the fellow’s 1L year (to be paid during the 1L summer associate program).
• $5,000 during the fall semester of the fellow’s 2L year (assuming the scholarship is renewed and acceptance of a 2L offer for the following summer).
• $10,000 during the fall semester of the fellow’s 3L year (assuming a permanent offer from Smith Anderson is extended and accepted).

These scholarships may be used toward law school tuition, fees and school-related costs. Additionally, the fellow will receive a salary consistent with the firm’s 1L summer associate compensation.

The application deadline is Jan. 5.

At the heart of Smith Anderson’s efforts is our 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. We are honored that Smith Anderson’s commitments to D&I have been publicly acknowledged with several awards and recognitions.

Smith Anderson has achieved Mansfield Certified Plus status for its actions to diversify leadership, recruit, hire and retain attorneys from underrepresented groups in the legal profession and for ensuring diverse lawyers are considered for new business efforts. The Triangle Business Journal named Smith Anderson one of its 2022 Leaders in Diversity award winners. It also named Management Committee Chair Amy Batten to its 2022 class of Women in Business and Sharita Whitaker, Diversity & Inclusion Committee immediate past co-chair, to its 2023 class of Women in Business. The firm received the Aspire Award from Lawyers of Colors in 2023, and consulting firm The Diversity Movement honored Smith Anderson in 2022 as one of five East Coast law firms that "do it right" in leading and advancing diversity and inclusion.

For more information on the Smith Anderson 1L Excellence in Diversity Fellowship and how to apply, click here.