In tribute to Paul D. White, the firm’s first minority partner and a pioneer for diversity in the legal profession, a scholarship was created to provide students from historically underrepresented backgrounds with valuable experience early in their careers.
The New Scholars Program. Early opportunities to build client relationships, serve the community, and follow your passion are foundational to success in law. Accordingly, beginning with Summer 2022, we expanded the Paul D. White scholarship into a tiered scholars program available to first-year (1L) and second-year (2L) students to provide recipients with unique opportunities and experiences during their summer internship, as well as bifurcated or trifurcated annual scholarship amounts designed to encourage continued engagement with our firm.
Specifically, Paul D. White Scholars may choose one (1) of the following enrichment experience tracks during their summer program:
- Client Rotation Track. Scholars are paired with a client in-house counsel mentor who introduces them to the client’s industry and legal needs. Scholars will have opportunities to work alongside legal department members and, where practical, visit client headquarters or other facilities.
- Public Interest Track. Scholars are paired with a BakerHostetler pro bono mentor who will provide opportunities to work on firm-approved pro bono matters alongside BakerHostetler attorneys.
Mentoring. In addition to the foregoing enrichment experiences, each Scholar will be paired with a mentor from the appropriate affinity group, who will provide guidance and maintain connection with the Scholar during the summer associate program(s), between programs and in advance of the Scholar’s arrival as a permanent associate.
Scholars Alumni Group. After the Scholars join our firm as permanent associates, they will become part of our Paul D. White Scholars Alumni Group. In addition to previously assigned mentors, each Alumni Scholar will be assigned a management sponsor with whom they will meet quarterly during their first year as an associate, and at least annually thereafter. The Alumni Group will provide additional networking, mentorship and other experiences and opportunities designed to help Scholars continue to thrive at our Firm.
Eligibility
Any law student who identifies as a member of a historically underrepresented group in the legal profession, including law students who are members of racial/ethnic groups, identify as LGBTQ+ or have disabilities and have completed their 1L or 2L year at an ABA-accredited law school.
Scholarship Amounts
1L Scholars receive summer associate compensation as well as an additional $7,500 toward tuition and law school expenses. 2L Scholars, whether new to the program or returning Scholars and who spend their full 2L summer at our firm, will receive summer associate compensation as well as an additional $10,000 toward tuition and law school expenses. Scholars who accept offers to join the firm as fulltime associates will receive an additional $10,000 upon joining our firm.
Application Dates & Office Locations
1L Applications will be accepted beginning November 1, 2022.
The following is a list of offices that are accepting 1L applications for the 2023 Summer Program, and their application deadlines*:
- Atlanta: January 13, 2023
- Cincinnati: January 13, 2023
- Cleveland: January 13, 2023
- Columbus: January 13, 2023
- Dallas: January 31, 2023
- Denver, January 31, 2023
- Los Angeles: January 31, 2023
- Orlando: January 31, 2023
- Philadelphia: January 13, 2023
- San Francisco: January 31, 2023
- Washington, D.C.: January 13, 2023
*The 2L application period has closed. Please check back in Summer 2023 for 2024 2L application dates.
Submission Information
Please complete your application online and attach your materials through this link: Paul D. White 1L Application
Complete and submit the following:
- Application form
- Current resume
- Undergraduate transcript
- Law school transcript (if your grades are not available, transcripts will be accepted at a later date)
- References - List the names and contact information for your references (no more than three)
- Personal statement – your statement should discuss what diversity means to you and why you are interested in BakerHostetler. Your statement should be double-spaced and no more than 500 words. More information on the personal statement is available here.