Program helps firms promote diversity, provides experience to law students

December 8, 2003

Last summer, 17 law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies provided summer employment and valuable legal experience to 19 first-year minority law students by participating in the Minority Summer Clerkship Program.

The State Bar Committee to Encourage Placement of Minority Lawyers sponsors the program to promote minority placements in settings where they traditionally have been underrepresented. Now in its 10th year, the program has provided first-hand experience in corporate, private, and government practice situations to more than 140 students.

"The program's primary focus is to provide first-year law students with an educational and 'real-world' experience," says Committee Chair Jamila Covington. "Students have an opportunity to develop their legal skills and acquire substantive knowledge while being exposed to a myriad of legal issues, and employers are able to work with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds with unique perspectives."

Applicants include Marquette and U.W. law school minority students who have successfully completed their first year. After a rigorous application, interview, and selection process, the State Bar committee matches participants with employers. Participating employers agree to accept a student match and to hire a program student for summer employment on the same terms as other first-year summer associates - providing the same salary, work experience, and social opportunities.

Abraham Agbozo, 2003 student participant, said, "It was a learning experience that afforded me the opportunity to appreciate the practical relevance of what I learned in the first-year of law school. I sharpened and improved my research, writing, and analytical skills. I am definitely enriched by my experience."

The State Bar thanks the following 2003 participating employers: American Family Insurance Mutual Insurance Company; Boardman Law Firm LLP; DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.; Edward Kraemer & Sons; Foley & Lardner; Godfrey & Kahn S.C.; Law Offices of Stilp & Cotton; Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company; Quarles & Brady LLP; Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren; Norris & Rieselbach S.C.; Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP; Shopko Stores Inc.; Stafford Rosenbaum LLP; US Bancorp Fund Services; von Briesen & Roper S.C.; and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

According to Steven R. Andrews, Shopko Stores Inc. senior vice president, "Your program allowed us a unique opportunity to have access to qualified law students for the summer internship. Because of our location in Green Bay, it would have been very difficult for us to recruit a qualified summer intern, and your program gave us a great selection. I hope you will emphasize to the candidates in your program that we value these relationships very much and hope to be of assistance to them as they progress through their careers."

Enrollment as a participating employer is open until Jan. 27. For more information, contact Jamila Covington at (414) 271-5000; or State Bar project coordinator Patricia Morgan at (800) 444-9404 ext. 6107.