Diversity Internship Program

Albany County Bar Association
Diversity Internship

Program goals
To increase the representation of lawyers and students of color in law firms and corporate legal departments in the Capital District, and to provide students of color with a private practice experience. The ultimate goal is to bring these two diverse communities together, create a network, forge relationships, with the long-term view and hope that the Students will be hired as Associates, thereby foster greater diversity in the private bar in the Capital District. Through this program the Intern will be provided a meaningful work experience, appropriately supervised, with assignments equivalent to a junior associate’s actual work situation. 

Program Constituents
Students from under- represented ethnic groups (e.g., African-American, Asian or Pacific Islander, Puerto Rican, Mexican, other Hispanic, American Indian) attending Albany Law School or any other law school where students could fulfill the work commitment. 

Law Firms and/or Corporate Legal Departments within the Capital District Region. Albany County Bar Association Administrative Committee will assist in meeting the purpose and the objectives of the Program. This may include establishing student eligibility requirements and employment standards, recording statistical data on hiring, retention, participation by students and employers, and any other criteria it deems evaluative. In addition, the Committee shall serve as a Screening Committee for those Law Firms who wish the Committee’s guidance in hiring a Student Intern.

Program’s Scope 
The Program shall function during the Law School’s Spring and Fall semester. Each internship shall consist of 100 hours to be completed over a ten-week period. The Compensation/Stipend for the semester shall be $1800. The proposed schedule for each semester is as follows:

Student Intern Responsibilities 
➤ Submit the following to the ACBA Screening Committee, c/o Albany Law School-Career Planning: the Student Application Form (attached hereto), resume, unofficial law school transcript, and writing sample of no more than five pages long. To be eligible, students must have earned a minimum a GPA of 2.5.

➤ Complete a ten-week internship (100 hours; minimum of ten hours per week) with an assigned employer.

➤ Attend the any related receptions. (note: the time involved in attending the receptions is not considered part of the Intern’s commitment to work 100 hours). 

➤ Complete an evaluation of the Diversity Internship Program. Employer Responsibilities

➤ Submit the Employer’s Application Form to Albany County Bar Association. 

➤ Identify a contact person for the Program.

➤ Screen and interview Student during the designated time period. If requested, Albany Law School will arrange all aspects of the interviews (either on-campus or at the firm’s office. An Employer may elect for the Administrative Committee to review student applicants consistent with the criteria listed below.

➤ Designate an attorney to serve as a Mentor for the Student Intern who will work with, consult, advise, and guide the Student Intern during their tenure with the Employer in the same manner as they do with other interns and new associates.

➤ Exercise diligence and sensitivity to ensure that meaningful work assignments equivalent to those assigned to other interns and young associates are delegated to the Student Intern.

➤ Evaluate the Student Intern as they would with any other law intern hired by them.

➤ Complete an evaluation of the Program and provide any statistical data requested by the Committee.

Administrative Committee’s Screening Process 
Among other responsibilities, the Committee will serve as a hiring screen for those participating Employers who seek the Committee’s assistance. When requested, the Committee will consider the Employer’s hiring criteria and the student’s application based upon:
1. Employer’s hiring criteria
2. Content and quality of application materials
3. Academic record
4. Work experience
5. Research, writing, analytical, communication and organizational skills
6. Leadership experience
7. Extracurricular activities and community service
8. Student Intern’s interest in a particular Employer’s legal practice
9. Maturity, integrity, professionalism, and sensitivity to ethical concerns
10.All other indicia of the potential for success.

For additional information contact: 
Albany County Bar Association
www.albanycountybar.com
(Contact: Barbara Davis)
The Stedman House
1 Lodge Street, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 445-7691
Fax: (518) 445-7511
E-mail: acba@albanycountybar.com

or
Jim Kelly, Esq.
Roemer Wallens & Mineaux, LLP
464-1300 ext. 312
464-1010 (fax)
E-mail: jkelly @rwmattys.com 


Albany County Bar Association
Diversity Internship Program
Student Application Form

Name: ____________________________________________ 

Address: ____________________________________________ 

____________________________________________ 

Telephone: ____________________________________________ 

E-mail: ____________________________________________ 

Class Year: 3L: _______ 2L: _______ 1L: _______ (not eligible for Fall semesters)

Semester Requested: ______ Fall ______ Spring

Areas of interest (if applicable): ____________________________________________________________________________ 

____________________________________________________________________________ 

I agree to participate in the Diversity Internship Program, as stated below.

➤ Complete ten-week internship (100 hours; minimum of ten hours per week) with assigned employer.

➤ Attend related receptions. (note: the time involved in attending the receptions is not considered part of the Intern’s commitment to work 100 hours.)

➤ Complete an evaluation of the Diversity Internship Program.

Signature: _______________________________

 Date: ______________________ 

Application Process 
Submit the following application materials to the Screening Committee, c/o Albany Law School Career Planning:
1. Student Application Form
2. Resume
3. Unofficial law school transcript
4. Writing sample (no more than five pages long) 

Albany County Bar Association,
The Stedman House
1 Lodge Street, 2nd Floor
Albany, New York 12207
518-445-7691
FAX: 518-445-7511
E-Mail: acba@albanycountybar.com

Albany County Bar Association
Diversity Internship Program
Employer Request Form 

To request an Intern, please submit this form to: Albany County Bar Association, Diversity Internship Program (c/o Barbara Davis), The Stedman House, 1 Lodge Street, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12207 (E-Mail: acba@albanycountybar.com). Please attach any descriptive materials regarding your firm or organization.

●Deadlines: Fall Semester - August 1
                   Spring Semester - November 10

Employer:___________________________________________________________

Contact Person: __________________________________ 

Mentor: __________________________________ 

Address: ______________________________________________________

 ___________________________________________________________ 

Telephone: _______________________

FAX: _________________________

E-mail: _____________________________________________________ 

Web site:  _____________________________________________________ 

Hiring criteria (if applicable): ______________________________________

Employer Responsibilities

➤ Pay a student a stipend of $ 1800 for the ten-week internship.
➤ Designate an attorney to serve as a mentor for the Intern.
➤ Screen and Interview an Intern during the designated period.
➤ Exercise diligence and sensitivity to ensure that meaningful legal assignments equivalent to those assigned to the law clerks and new associates are delegated to student interns.
➤ Have a representative from the firm attend related receptions. 
➤ Complete an evaluation of the Diversity Internship Program and provide any statistical data requested by the ACBA Committee.

Signature: _______________________________

Date: _______________________________________ 

Albany County Bar Association
The Stedman House
1 Lodge Street, 2nd Floor
Albany, New York 12207
518-445-7691
FAX: 518-445-7511
E-Mail: acba@albanycountybar.com

                                                                                                                            June 19, 2000

    In June of 1999, President Clinton issued a clarion Call to Action to the legal profession asking that all sectors of the legal profession find a way to increase diversity within its professional ranks. Nationally, the response was overwhelming and coalitions of law firms, bar associations, law school associations and others joined together to form Lawyers for One America. Its mutual goal is to help shape the legal profession in such a way that it reflects the respect and representation of the diverse communities that it serves.

    On Wednesday, April, 5, 2000, a similar coalition occurred in our community. The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission on Minorities, Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Bar Associations, the Capital District Black Bar Association, the Capital District Chapter of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, members of the Judiciary and bar leaders in the private sector, participated in a roundtable discussion to critically discuss the status of lawyers of color in the capital district region. This critical discussion was spearheaded by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye of the Court of Appeals. Judges George Bundy Smith and Carmen Beauchamp Ceparick joined into the dialogue.

    During this frank discussion, keen observations were made concerning the reasons why there is a dearth of people of color practicing in the private bar. More important than just identifying the problem, remedies were proposed.

    With this letter, enclosed please find the Albany County Bar Association’s proposal to meet the challenge issued by our President and address the needs we identified. The Diversity Internship Program is intended to create a greater interaction between law students of color and the local private firms with the hope that this would usher in greater diversity into the capital district private bar. Moreover, this effort to hire, mentor and encourage young students of color will demonstrate that this community wants to ensure their access and success in this profession. Already, nine firms have committed resources to participate in this program.

    We ask you to join us by participating in some significant way to bring a healthy and welcome change to our profession. To paraphrase Janet Reno’s law day message on the mission of diversity, "over time, our own hiring practices will prove we are committed to diversity".

    We are looking forward to your long-term participation in this program. For further details on this program, you may reach out to Matthew J. Kelly 464-1300 and Randy Treece at 474-3444.

                                                                                                                        Very truly yours,

                                                                                                                        Matthew J. Kelly

                                                                                                                        Randolph F. Treece

For additional information contact:

Albany County Bar Association
(Contact: Barbara Davis)
The Stedman House
1 Lodge Street, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 445-7691
Fax: (518) 445-7511
E-mail: acba@albanycountybar.com

Introduction

On Wednesday, April 5, 2000, the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission on Minorities, with the assistance and co-sponsorship of the Capital District Black Bar Association, the Capital District Chapter of the Puerto Rican Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association, hosted a round table discussion of bar leaders and critical decision makers to discuss the status of lawyers of color in the Capital District. The Commission’s objective was to develop specific recommendations designed to increase the number of lawyers of color in the Capital District, in law firms, and on the Bench. Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye of the Court of Appeals began the discussion. Other members of the Court of Appeals, the Appellate Division, Third Department, and Supreme Court also participated. Representatives from approximately two dozen local private firms and Albany Law School joined in the discussion.

The discussion evolved around the undeniable observations that people of color have not participated in any appreciable manner in private practice in the Capital District Region. Round table participants agreed that students and graduates of color know about this discriminatory impact within the Capital District private bar and perceive Capital District private firms as "unwelcoming" to persons of color. As a result, students and graduates of color are not applying to such firms in any significant numbers. Representatives from private firms indicated that their firms were looking to diversify - that indeed the clients were demanding diversity - but they were having a hard time attracting candidates of color despite their attempts to do so.

In response to this "negative perception," the Albany County Bar Association proposes the "Diversity Internship Program" which is intended to create more interaction between students of color and the local private firms and thus change these negative perceptions which students and graduates of color currently hold. The program is intended, as well, to introduce greater diversity into the Capital District private bar.