Pipeline Programs

Encouraging young people to pursue legal careers begins with educating them early about the legal profession and providing them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in law school and beyond. Latham’s investment in the next generation of lawyers and leaders includes creating and participating in pipeline programs that range from office-level partnerships with high schools to introduce students to law, democracy, and civics — to internship and fellowship opportunities that offer training, networking, and law school admissions support.

Ron Brown Scholar Program

The Ron Brown Scholar Program was established in 1996 to provide academic scholarships, service opportunities, and leadership experiences for young African American college students in the US. The Program seeks to accelerate their progress into leadership positions in a wide spectrum of professions while instilling a dedication to service. We collaborate with this Program in several ways, including a financial sponsorship and internship opportunities for rising college seniors and students who have been admitted to law school.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Programs

We’ve partnered with SEO on two programs to support students from underrepresented backgrounds as they pursue careers in the legal industry.

• SEO Law Fellowship Program

  Since 2011, we have sponsored SEO’s Law Fellowship Program to give talented, underrepresented students of color who have been accepted to top law schools the opportunity to get hands-on experience at a leading law firm through summer internships. The students also participate in SEO’s Corporate Law Institute, which is a lecture series and networking forum led by top corporate lawyers and distinguished law school professors that teach students critical skills for excelling during their first year of law school. Partnering with SEO on this program provides us with an opportunity to develop relationships with excellent legal talent early on in their careers.

• SEO Law Catalyst Program

  We participate in SEO’s Law Catalyst program, a nine-month program that assists students from underrepresented backgrounds with applying to law school. Through this program, traditionally underrepresented law student applicants are provided with a free LSAT preparation course, assistance with law school applications, mentorship from participating law firms, and access to roundtable discussions with law school admissions officers.

Law Preview Diversity Scholarship Program

We award 80+ diversity scholarship annually to rising 1L students to attend a week-long Law Preview law school preparation course, which is designed to help prepare students for their first year of law school. Students are selected based on their commitment to promoting DEI in the legal profession.

Thrive Scholars

Through our sponsorship of Thrive Scholars, we support high-achieving, low-income students of color, starting in 11th grade, by providing them with internship opportunities and resources to help them succeed at top colleges and ultimately in law school.

Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP)

LEAP is a California-based organization that facilitates a nine-month program for pre-law students who are historically underrepresented in the legal field, including students of color, students who identify as LGBTQ+, first generation college students, students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, students who aged out of foster care, and students who have been formally incarcerated. LEAP provides participants with programming designed to prepare them for a successful law career, including LSAT prep courses, mentoring, and a moot court competition. We collaborate with LEAP by providing a financial sponsorship and mentoring for students. 

The Appellate Project

We work with The Appellate Project, a nonprofit organization empowering law students of color, particularly those most underrepresented, to become the next generation of lawyers and judges in our highest courts. Our partnership includes mentoring, educational workshops, and financial support.

Pipeline to Practice

Through our sponsorship of the Pipeline to Practice Foundation, we support its mission to provide access to programming and coaching that is critical to achieving academic excellence in law school, developing the skills necessary to be successful attorneys, creating pathways to leadership positions, and ultimately, to become role models to the next generation of diverse law students.

JD Advising

We support the JD Advising Scholars Program by sponsoring JD Advising’s free Law School Prep Course.  Their free Law School Prep Course focuses on teaching students how to succeed academically in law school, particularly as many aspects of a student’s law school and legal careers are guided by how well they do in the critical first year.

PracticePro

We partner with PracticePro’s Diversity Scholar Program, a coaching, training, and recruiting program designed to help law students secure their dream employment while simultaneously preparing them with the skills, knowledge, confidence, and savvy to flourish in their legal positions and climb the corporate leadership. We provide mentorship and participation in their PracticePro Career Conferences.

The Yale Law School Launchpad Scholars Program (Pre-Law)

The Yale Law School Launchpad Scholars Program, powered by Latham & Watkins, helps members of underrepresented or underserved communities navigate the law school application and admission process from start to finish. The innovative program aims to ensure that excellent applicants from all backgrounds can maximize their potential as law students and legal professionals, empowering them to become leaders in their future careers.

The Launchpad Scholars Program, open to all current college students and graduates planning to apply to law school in the fall of 2024, will provide participants with application and career readiness support, including substantial LSAT preparation, attorney and law student mentorship, and other resources that will prepare participants to apply to the law schools of their choosing. The Launchpad Scholars Program is open to all applicants, but especially welcomes applications from members of groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession.

For more information about the program and application requirements, please visit law.yale.edu/launchpad.