Could hiring lawyers before they even enrol in law school be part of the next wave of law firm diversity efforts? Two Ohio firms pioneered this approach back in 2021, partnering with the University of Dayton School of Law to recruit J.D. students with the promise of tuition and living expenses, mentoring, and a full-time job upon graduation.
Thompson Hine and Taft Stettinius & Hollister were the first firms to join Dayton’s Flyer Legal Promise Program, launched back in 2021. This initiative was built on an undergraduate scholarship program for underserved students from local high schools. The law school and firms selected two students from this pool of undergraduates for full-ride scholarships to the J.D. program. The law school covered tuition, while the sponsoring firms covered two-thirds of a $15,000 annual living stipend, summer jobs at the firms, and a full-time job offer post-graduation.
While many law firms have summer associate programs for diverse law students and pipeline programs to encourage underrepresented students to attend law school, Dayton Law Dean Andrew Strauss believes offering permanent jobs to prospective law students at this early stage is unique. “We’re going to be giving them mentorship and training throughout their law school existence so that they hit the ground running,” he said, noting the benefits for the students, firms, and clients.
This program has grown from strength to strength since its inception, serving as a model for similar initiatives aimed at enhancing diversity in the legal profession.
In the UK, similar initiatives have emerged. Law firms and chambers often recruit their new intake during the final year of law school, with applications starting as early as the second year. Programs such as Latham & Watkins’ Pathways Program and DLA Piper’s Summer Associate Program provide significant support, including financial assistance, mentorship, and early job offers to diverse candidates. Latham’s Pathways Program, for example, offers extensive legal training, mentoring, and real-world experience, targeting students committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) (Home) (Global Law Firm | DLA Piper).
These programs reflect a broader effort to secure top talent early and ensure diversity within the profession. Offering substantial financial support and early job guarantees helps attract a more diverse range of candidates who might otherwise face barriers to entering the legal field (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP). This approach not only aims to improve diversity but also to secure the best talent as early as possible.