May 28, 2020
For the third straight year, ALFA International member firms are participating in the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program (DAPP). DAPP is a non-profit corporation that aims to diversify the legal profession by expanding opportunities for women law students of color.
The long-term goal of the intensive DAPP program is to develop and prepare the next generation of diverse attorneys to enter and remain in the legal pipeline while giving them the tools, network, and community of supporters to help them succeed.
DAPP is open to full-time, first-year law students. Chosen students are provided with academic support, coaching, counseling, financial assistance, tutoring, seminars and workshops, professional development, and mentorship. Subject to availability and dependent upon student performance, students will be placed in an internship with a selected law firm. Students given this internship opportunity are more likely to obtain summer associate positions and secure offers of employment following law school.
This year, nine ALFA International member firms are participating in the program and have been paired with one of DAPP’s first-year law students.
The nine ALFA International member firms participating this year are:
- Axilon Law Group, PLLC, Billings, MT
- Baylor Evnen, LLP, Lincoln, NE
- Christensen & Jensen, P.C., Salt Lake City, UT
- Frantz Ward LLP, Cleveland, OH
- Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP, Buffalo, NY
- Hall & Evans, LLC, Denver, CO
- Lewis Wagner, Indianapolis, IN
- Morrison Mahoney LLP, Boston, MA
- Stoll Keenon Ogden, PLLC, Louisville, KY
George Burbidge, an attorney with ALFA International’s Salt Lake City member firm, Christensen & Jensen, said about their experience with DAPP, “My law firm hired Amber as a summer associate through the ALFA/DAPP partnership program. Amber was a fantastic summer associate. The feedback I received from the attorneys here at C&J was uniformly positive. They were pleased with the quality of her work. She quickly grasped issues, asked insightful questions and wrote helpful memoranda and reports. Amber is smart, articulate, and has a good sense of humor. She is a very good fit with C&J and we are very happy that she was able to work with us for the summer.”
Scott Burke, managing partner with ALFA International’s Boston member firm, Morrison & Mahoney, commented about his firm’s experience with DAPP, “We are very pleased we had the chance to participate. It was an investment, but worth it. And, increasing diversity is such an important goal.“
Beginning on May 28th, the DAPP students will participate in a comprehensive two-day Client Readiness Boot Camp to prepare them to work in a law firm setting. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the boot camp will be held virtually and contingency plans are in place with participating law firms to accommodate interns during this crisis. We wish the DAPP students well during their summer internships.