SDCBA/ACC
Diversity Fellowship Program
What is the program?
The San Diego County Bar Association & the Association of Corporate Counsel - San Diego Chapter created the San Diego Diversity Fellowship Program in 2009 as a response to the low number of diverse attorneys practicing law in San Diego County law firms, corporate legal departments, and public agencies. 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:
- To increase the number of diverse attorneys practicing in San Diego County law firms, corporate legal departments, and public agencies 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;
- To assist San Diego County law firms, corporate legal departments, and public agencies in their efforts to recruit talented diverse attorneys by introducing them to qualified, diverse law students who may not have been identified through traditional summer recruitment programs. Employment of these students provides an opportunity for a diversity of ideas which enhance the quality of legal services that participating employers may provide to their clients.
When does the program take place?
The Program takes place once a year during the summer (typically May - August) and lasts for 8-10 weeks.
Employers interested in participating:
If you are a law firm, corporate legal department, or public agency interested in participating in the Program, please reach out to Bhashini Weerasinghe, DFP Director, at 619-352-0519 or email at bw@bhashinilaw.com to get started.
For more information please read the following:
Law Students interested in participating:
If you are a law student interested in participating in the Program, please read the following:
- View the presentation for 2020-2021: DFP Law Student Orientation
- DFP Overview for Law Students (2021)
- DFP Law Student Frequently Asked Questions (2021)
- 2021 DFP Timeline
** Applications for the 2021 program opens December 1, 2020 and close at 9:00 AM PST February 10th, 2021.
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact Bhashini Weerasinghe, DFP Director, at 619-352-0519 or email at bw@bhashinilaw.com.
Thank You to Our 2020 Participating DFP Employers!
Andrews Lagasse Branch & Bell LLP
Becton, Dickinson and Company
Cozen O'Connor
Duane Morris LLP
Ferris & Britton
Fisher Phillips LLP
Haeggquist & Eck LLP
Higgs Fletcher & Mack, LLP
Klinedinst PC
LPL Financial
Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
Perez Vaughn & Feasby
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Public Defender
Sempra Energy
Smith Steiner Vanderpool
Sony Electronics Inc.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Wilson Turner Kosmo
Wingert Grebing
Diversity Fellowship Program In the News:
Daily Journal, click here.
San Diego Lawyer Magazine: Nov/Dec 2019, Sep/Oct 2018, Sep/Oct 2017, Sep/Oct 2016, Sep/Oct 2015
The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Letter from Shaka Johnson