The San Diego County Bar Association and Association of Corporate Counsel-San Diego Diversity Fellowship Program ("DFP") was created in response to the low number of diverse attorneys practicing law in San Diego County law firms and corporate legal departments.   The Program provides an  opportunity for diverse, first year law students to learn and develop skills necessary to be successful in law firm and corporate legal department environments and exposes law firms and corporate legal departments to qualified individuals who might not otherwise be considered.  The Program is modeled after similar initiatives in Sacramento, Puget Sound/Seattle, Cleveland, St. Louis, Columbus, Atlanta, and the Bay Area.
 
The Program takes place during the summer and lasts for 8-10 weeks.  The main objectives of the Program are:

1.      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;

2.      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.
 
If you are interested in getting more information about the Program, please read the SDCBA & ACC-SD Diversity Fellowship Program Document. 
 
If you are from a law firm or corporate legal department and are interested in participating in the Program during the summer of 2009, please sign the SDCBA & ACC-SD Diversity Fellowship Program Agreement.  Please send the signed agreement to: San Diego County Bar Association, ATTN: Diversity Fellowship Program, 1333 Seventh Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101-4309.
 
If you are a law student and are interested in applying for the Program, please fill out the SDCBA & ACC-SD Diversity Fellowship Program Application. Please send the signed application to: San Diego County Bar Association, ATTN: Diversity Fellowship Program, 1333 Seventh Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101-4309.

The Diversity Fellowship was featured in The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Southwest Edition, Volume 19, No. 3 (p. 50).   

If you have any questions, please contact Shaka Johnson.

The SDCBA & ACC-SD Diversity Fellowship Program (the "DFP") is in place for its second year of service in 2010 and ready for another successful summer.  

In summary, the DFP provides an opportunity for diverse, first year law students to learn and develop skills that are necessary to be successful in law firm and corporate legal department environments and exposes law firms and corporate legal departments to qualified individuals who might not otherwise have come to their attention. The Program is not a recruitment tool, but an educational tool for both the students and the participating employers.  Applications for the Program were submitted to the DFP Sub-Committee, and selected applicants were interviewed, chosen for participation, and ultimately placed at a particular employer by the DFP Sub-Committee.  

Thank you to our 2011 Diversity Fellowship Program Employers: 

* Andrews Lagasse Branch & Bell

* Carlton DiSante & Freudenberger

* CareFusion 

* Ferris & Britton

* Jones Day

* Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton

* Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch

* Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton 

* Sempra Energy – S.D.

* Sony Electronics Inc.

* Qualcomm

* Wilson Turner Kosmo