2021 Maine Diversity Summer Associate Program Expands to Include Additional Law Firms and Corporate Partners

Following a highly successful inaugural year, the three founding law firms of the Maine D1L Diversity Summer Associate program and the University of Maine School of Law welcome all of the new participating law firms and organizations for 2021.

Program founders Bernstein Shur, Pierce Atwood, and Verrill are pleased to partner with law firms Brann & Isaacson and Preti Flaherty, along with corporate partners The Jackson Laboratory and WEX, for an expanded 2021 program.

This unique initiative focuses on building a diverse legal community in Maine by attracting a diverse pool of first-year law students (1Ls) from across the country for a 10-week paid summer internship in 2021 at one of this year’s participating organizations. 

The first-year law students accepted to the program will have the opportunity to experience legal practice and life in Maine, participate in professional development programs, and build their social and business networks within the participating organizations and the larger legal community. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to build a stronger, more diverse community of legal professionals in Maine. 

A workforce comprising professionals with different backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and talents is not only essential to growth and stability, but also critical to providing outstanding client service and a better work environment for attorneys and staff. 

Josh Rosen, a second-year student at Maine Law and a 2020 D1L program participant, stated, “I am incredibly grateful to Bernstein Shur, Verrill, and Pierce Atwood for initiating the Maine D1L program, particularly at the height of the pandemic. As a first-generation college student and member of the LGBTQ community, the D1L program gave me valuable and unprecedented access to a high-quality career experience at one of Maine's largest and most prestigious firms. The D1L program helped shape my legal career trajectory, built my professional confidence, and allowed me to make meaningful personal connections with attorneys at all levels and in all practice areas of the organization.”

This year’s participants will collaborate throughout the program’s solicitation, selection, and implementation process. Maine Law will help the selected students connect with the Maine legal community and with the law school’s current students and PreLaw Undergraduate Scholars.

The open application process begins on December 14, 2020, and candidate interviews will occur in February 2021 with final selections made by early March. Please click here for more information about the program and for instructions on how to apply.