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:
- 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;
- 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.
Employers interested in participating:
If you are a law firm or corporate legal department interested in participating in the Program, please reach out to Bhashini Weerasinghe, DFP Director, at 619-352-0519 or email at bw@bhashinilaw.com.
For more information please read the following:
2. DFP Employer Frequently Asked Questions
Law Students interested in participating:
If you are a law student interested in participating in the Program, please read/attend the following:
1. Please join us for a presentation at your local law school:
- Cal Western: November 12, 2019 (2:20pm - 3:50pm, Room LH2)
- Thomas Jefferson: November 14, 2019 (2:00pm-2:45pm, Room 228)
- USD: November 19, 2019 (12:00pm - 1:00pm, Warren Hall)
2. DFP Overview for Law Students
3. DFP Law Student Frequently Asked Questions
5. ** Applications for the 2020 program opens December 2, 2019 and close at 9:00 AM PST February 10th, 2020.
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.
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 2019 Participating DFP Employers
- Andrews Lagasse Branch & Bell LLP
- Becton, Dickinson and Company
- Cozen O'Connor
- District Attorney’s Office, County of San Diego
- Duane Morris
- Ferris & Britton, A Professional Corporation
- Higgs Fletcher & Mack, LLP
- Klinedinst
- Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton, LLP
- Perez, Vaughn, & Feasby
- Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
- Public Defender’s Office, County of San Diego
- Rimon Law Group
- Sempra Energy
- Sheppard and Mullin
- Sony Electronics Inc.
- Wilson Turner Kosmo
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