Applications are now being accepted for the annual Latham & Watkins Diversity Scholars Program, which awards six law students at ABA-accredited law schools a $10,000 non-renewable scholarship for use during their second year of law school. Previous recipients of the scholarships have told us that the program not only defrays the cost of a law school education, but also signals the importance of diversity to the firm and is a strong indicator of Latham's open-minded and forward-thinking culture.
Started in 2005, the Diversity Scholars Program is designed to increase the number of diverse attorneys who want to pursue careers in global law firms and intend to practice law in the United States. The quality and quantity of applicants over the past six years have been overwhelming, and the success of the program reaffirms and strengthens our commitment to innovative initiatives that support and sustain greater diversity in the legal profession. The Diversity Scholars Program is among a range of ongoing activities that enhance the firm's efforts to recruit and hire diverse summer clerks and attorneys.
Factors considered in choosing the Diversity Scholars include motivation for pursuing a legal career, academic and leadership achievements, life experiences and challenges, and desire to practice at a global law firm and contribute to its diversity objectives. Candidates are asked to submit an application form, personal statement, resume and official or unofficial law school transcript by June 15, 2012. Recipients will be announced in late summer 2012. The process is open to all law students at ABA-accredited law schools who have completed their first year of a full-time JD program by the application deadline. The scholarships are not contingent upon receiving or accepting an offer of employment at Latham.
Application forms and more information on the program can be found by clicking here.