Smith Anderson Announces 2023 Excellence in Diversity 1L Fellowship

Smith Anderson, the largest law firm headquartered in the world-renowned Research Triangle region, is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our firm, the legal profession and the greater business community. We seek to attract, develop and retain attorneys who share this commitment and who demonstrate the potential to make a positive contribution toward diversity and inclusion in the place we live and work, and that hundreds of companies, including science and technology firms, startups, nonprofits and academic institutions, call home. In furtherance of this commitment, we are proud to offer the Smith Anderson Excellence in Diversity 1L Fellowship.

We seek applications from first-year students who are enrolled full-time at ABA-accredited law schools; who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion through their activities, background and life experiences, as well as members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in the legal profession, including first-generation college students and those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds; and who are interested in practicing law in the Research Triangle region (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill). This fellowship program may not be combined with any other diversity fellowship opportunity.

The program will provide a unique 1L summer fellowship opportunity that combines a traditional law firm summer associate experience with working in an in-house corporate law department. Fellows will spend 5-7 weeks participating in Smith Anderson’s summer associate program in the firm’s Raleigh office and up to 3 weeks with an in-house corporate legal department located in the Research Triangle region, for a total fellowship of 8 to 10 weeks. Each fellow will be paid a salary consistent with our 1L summer associate pay. Fellows will be paired with a mentor and will have the opportunity to work on challenging legal assignments and learn from both the outside and in-house counsel perspectives.

Scholarship

In addition to a salaried summer associate position, each fellow will be awarded a scholarship of up to $20,000 paid as follows:

• $5,000 following completion of the fellow’s 1L year;
• $5,000 during the fall semester of the fellow’s 2L year following completion of the 1L summer associate program;
• $5,000 during the fall semester of the fellow’s 3L year (assuming the scholarship is renewed and completion of Smith Anderson’s 2L summer associate program); and
• $5,000 following acceptance of a permanent offer from Smith Anderson.

These scholarship awards may be used toward law school tuition, fees and school-related costs.

To apply for this fellowship, please click here and select "Law Students" towards the bottom.