Latham Diversity Scholars Program for Rising 2L Students

Latham & Watkins is pleased to announce that the application process is now open for the Latham Diversity Scholars Program. For the fourth consecutive year, the firm will be awarding a $10,000 non-renewable scholarship to each of four second-year law students for use during their third year at ABA-accredited law schools (2009-10). Students are asked to submit an application form, personal statement, resume and official or unofficial law school transcript by September 15, 2008. The application form and instructions can be found on the firm’s Web site at www.lw.com/diversity under the Diversity Scholars Program heading.

To become a Latham Diversity Scholar, you must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and intend to practice law in a major city of the United States. You must have successfully completed your first year of a full-time JD program, with an expected graduation date of spring 2010, and you may not be the recipient of a similar scholarship award from another law firm.

Factors considered in choosing the Latham Diversity Scholars include a candidate’s:

· Ability and commitment to contribute to the diversity objectives of global law firms,
· Life experiences that have shaped values and that provide a unique perspective, including any obstacles or challenges faced in choosing or pursuing law as a profession,
· Academic and leadership achievements, and
· Desire to practice in a global law firm environment.

This scholarship is not contingent upon receiving or accepting an offer of employment at Latham & Watkins. Rather, it is open to all law students and is designed to encourage greater diversity among the attorneys at large law firms as a way of benefiting the entire profession. Recipients will be announced in the early spring of 2009.

The Latham Diversity Scholars Program enhances Latham’s efforts to recruit and hire diverse summer clerks and attorneys. The firm’s ongoing initiatives include its annual Diversity Weekend attended by diverse law students receiving offers from the firm and a range of additional outreach efforts by Latham’s Diversity Hiring Sub-Committee.