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SDCBA/ACC Diversity Fellowship Program

What is the program?

The San Diego County Bar Association & the Association of Corporate Counsel created the San Diego Diversity Fellowship Program in response to the low number of diverse attorneys practicing law in San Diego County law firms and corporate legal departments. The Program is modeled after similar initiatives in Sacramento, Puget Sound/Seattle, Cleveland, St. Louis, Columbus, Atlanta, and the Bay Area. The main objectives of the Program are:

  1. To increase the number of diverse attorneys practicing in San Diego County law firms and corporate legal departments by providing first year law students with an opportunity to develop their skills and make professional contacts through fellowship opportunities at law firms and corporate legal departments;
  2. To assist San Diego County law firms and corporate legal departments in their efforts to recruit competent diverse attorneys by introducing them to qualified, diverse law students who may not have been identified by the firm or legal department through traditional summer programs. In addition, employment of these students provides a diversity of ideas which enhance the quality of legal services that participating employers may provide their clients.

Thank You to Our 2017 Participating DFP Employers

  • Andrews Lagasse Branch & Bell LLP                                                                         
  • Carothers DiSante                                                                                           
  • Cozen O’Conner                                                                                                              
  • District Attorney’s Office, County of San Diego                                  
  • Duane Morris                                                                                      
  • Ferris & Britton, A Professional Corporation                                                                           
  • Higgs Fletcher & Mack, LLP                                                                                                     
  • Klinedinst PC                                                                                                                              
  • Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton, LLP                                            
  • Perez Wilson Vaughn & Feasby                                                                
  • Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP                                             
  • Public Defender’s Office, County of San Diego                                  
  • Sempra Energy                                                                                                
  • Shustak Reynolds & Partners                                                                                             
  • Sony Electronics Inc.
  • Wilson Turner Kosmo                                                                         

Employers interested in participating:

If you are a law firm or corporate legal department interested in participating in the Program, please read the following:

1. DFP Overview for Employers

2. 2016 DFP Extended Article in the San Diego Lawyer

3. DFP Employer Frequently Asked Questions

4. DFP Employer Agreement

5. 2017 DFP Timeline

Law Students interested in participating:

If you are a law student interested in participating in the Program, please read the following:

1. DFP Overview for Law Students

Please join us for an orientation at your local law school:

  • Cal Western:           November 10, 2016 (12:45pm- 1:45pm, Room 2D)
  • Thomas Jefferson:  November 11, 2016 (11:45am - 12:45pm)
  • USD:                       November 15, 2016 (12:00pm - 1:00pm, Warren Hall, Room 133)

2. 2016 DFP Extended Article in the San Diego Lawyer

3. DFP Law Student Frequently Asked Questions

3. 2017 DFP Timeline

4. APPLY HERE   ** Applications for the 2017 program open December 2, 2016 and close at 5:00pm PST January 27, 2017.

When does the program take place?

The Program takes place once a year during the summer (tpyically May - August) and lasts for 8-10 weeks.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Harris at 619.321.4112 or email at dfpdirector@sdcba.org

Diversity Fellowship Program In the News:

Daily Journal, click here.
San Diego Lawyer Magazine, click here.
The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Letter from Shaka Johnson.