Pipeline internship program used by prestigious law firms discriminates based on race, group contends
A law firm fellowship program for incoming law students is “the largest racially discriminatory hiring pipeline program in the legal field,” according to a charge of discrimination. (Image from Shutterstock)
A law firm fellowship program for incoming law students is “the largest racially discriminatory hiring pipeline program in the legal field," according to a charge of discrimination filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by a legal advocacy group.
The legal advocacy group, Americans for Equal Opportunity, is asking the EEOC to investigate Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, a nonprofit organization, and 44 of the nation’s largest firms that provide jobs to the incoming law students by partnering with the pipeline nonprofit, according to a May 12 press release and stories by Bloomberg Law and Law360.
Americans for Equal Opportunity filed the complaint on behalf of three members who think that they were excluded from the program because they are not Black, Hispanic or Native American. The “white or white-presenting” members had academic qualifications and work experience that matched or exceeded that of incoming students who were selected for the program, the complaint said.
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity chooses about 200 fellows each year who undergo a two-week training program and then are placed into paid summer positions with firms before they begin law school, according to the press release. Historically, a majority of fellows receive an offer to become a summer associate after their first year of law school.
“Upon information and belief,” the complaint said, “sponsor firms seek to fulfill racial quotas by prioritizing the hiring of candidates from preferred races or ethnicities. To escape legal liability, sponsor firms describe their attempts to fulfill quotas as merely implementing diversity ‘targets.’ But in reality these diversity ‘targets’ are actually quotas, and sponsor firms are engaging in illegal discrimination through programs like SEO to fulfill them.”
Even though Sponsors for Educational Opportunity said its fellowships are open to all applicants, “SEO has done nothing to change applicants’ understanding that its fellowship is truly intended for Black, Hispanic and Native American students,” the complaint said.
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg Law and Law360. The group did not immediately respond to an ABA Journal email seeking comment.
See also:
6 firms resolved EEOC probes with pro bono deals, they told state attorneys general
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
