Pillsbury’s 2023 1L Fellowship for Advancing Diversity in the Profession offers the following:

• A paid summer associate position (typically 10 weeks) in one of Pillsbury’s U.S. offices during the summer of 2023.
• The opportunity to participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Scholars Program.*
• For 1L Fellows successfully completing their summer with Pillsbury, the opportunity to return to Pillsbury in a paid 2L summer associate position.
• Up to a $40,000 award as follows:
  • 1L Fellows who receive and accept an offer to return as a 2L Pillsbury summer associate will receive a $15,000 award to help defray the cost of law school.
  • Those Fellows who then also successfully complete their 2L summer with Pillsbury, and receive and accept an offer to return as an associate with Pillsbury after graduation from law school, will receive another $25,000 award.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Eligibility

1L law students are encouraged to apply who:

• Are enrolled full-time at an ABA-accredited law school.
• Come from a background that would contribute to Pillsbury’s diversity and inclusion goals and would add to the advancement of diversity in the legal industry due to their life experiences, socioeconomic background, personal attributes or characteristics and regardless of race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic or condition.
• Are U.S. citizens or otherwise authorized to work in the United States.
• Are likely to practice after graduation in one of Pillsbury’s U.S. offices.
• Will not be the recipient of a diversity award or scholarship from another law firm paid between January 1 and August 31 of the year in which the student will work with Pillsbury.

Selection

1L Fellowship recipients will be selected based on a combination of the following factors:

• Strength of the applicant’s personal statement.
• A demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity and inclusivity within the legal community, and a desire to contribute to the firm’s diversity goals.
• Strong undergraduate and law school academic performance.
• Personal achievement, including demonstrated success in facing or overcoming obstacles.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• A strong base of oral and written communication skills.
• Desire and commitment to excel as a lawyer in a large, private firm practice environment.

*Pillsbury is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).  The LCLD 1L Scholars Program is designed to strengthen the legal pipeline by expanding the number of opportunities for diverse first-year law students.  1L students receive valuable professional training, including on the value of building relationships and networks with LCLD member organizations.

Application Requirements

To apply, applicants must timely provide:

• A completed 1L Fellowship application form.
• A cover letter identifying the office(s) to which the candidate is applying.
• A current resume.
• Official undergraduate and law school transcripts (once available).
• A personal statement addressing the topic stated in the application form.

Details:  Applications will be reviewed on a continuing basis until positions are filled or until January 15, 2023, with priority given to submissions received by December 31, 2022. Applications must be submitted to:  Pillsbury 2023 1L Fellowship Application.

Questions may be directed to Rohonda Williams, at Rohonda.williams@pillsburylaw.com

About Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Pillsbury has been a long-time supporter of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The firm was among the first major law firms to promote women to partnership and the first large, national firm in the Unites States to elect a woman as its top leader. Today, DEI initiatives and programs are widespread across the firm. Pillsbury is strongly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our firm’s strategic plan includes a combination of internal and external initiatives. Internal initiatives are focused on, among other things, enhancing the experience of our diverse attorney population, increasing our retention and promotion rates, increasing the number of diverse attorneys in leadership roles, and increasing the number of diverse equity partners. Our employee resource groups include: (i) DiverseAbilities, serves as a resource and an advocate for employees with disabilities and their families, (ii) M.E.R.G. (Military Employee Resource Group), which supports active and retired military personnel and their families, (iii) Pillsbury Pride, a resource group for LGBTQ+ members and their allies, (iv) Black Excellence, focuses on the professional development of the firm's black business pro...fessionals, and (v) First Gen, provides support and development tools to individuals who are first generation professionals. Our business resource groups that focus on professional support and development and fostering business relationships include: (i) Women’s Impact Network and (ii) Attorneys of Color Network.

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