Help Broaden the Pipeline of Future Boston Lawyers

Underscoring the importance of exposing students from Boston's public high schools to the legal profession, BBA President Tony Doniger today announced that 32 law firms and in-house legal departments have already committed to hiring students through the Boston Bar Association Summer Jobs Program.

"There is nothing more gratifying than knowing that we as lawyers have the potential to inspire the young men and women of this city to think about pursuing careers in the legal profession," said Doniger. "Lawyers and firms who have participated in this program in the past universally agree that this is a rare chance to really make a difference in the lives of our young people."

The BBA Summer Jobs Program is a longstanding collaboration of the Boston Bar Association, the City of Boston, the Boston School Department, and the Boston Private Industry Council. The success of the Program requires that law firms, law offices, and legal departments invest in Boston's future by hiring a student.

"Hiring a Boston student through the BBA Summer Jobs Program speaks volumes about a law firm or in-house legal department's commitment to the community," said Jeffrey F. Jones, Co-Chair of the BBA Summer Jobs Program, and a Partner at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP.

All of the students in the Program attend Thursday morning breakfast seminars organized by the BBA, and taught by volunteer lawyers and judges.  In additional to receiving financial literacy training, the students take part in interactive civics lessons.  Students are pre-screened by teachers or guidance counselors and submit written applications with an essay and recommendations. The standard rate of pay is $9.00/hour for full-time work, and the employer determines the student's schedule and tasks, depending upon the office's needs and the student's abilities.

"When you hire students through the BBA Summer Jobs Program, you are giving them a unique opportunity, one not readily available to urban youth," said Paula Andrews, Co-Chair of the BBA Summer Jobs Program and a Partner at Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP. "You are also sending a message that the legal profession cares about being inclusive."

To hire a student for the summer of 2008, contact Rebecca Rantz, BBA Public Service Coordinator at (617) 778-1922 or rrantz@bostonbar.org.

Summer Jobs Program Participants

Adorno & Yoss
Boston Bar Association  
Bromberg & Sunstein LLP
Burns & Levinson LLP
Choate Hall & Stewart, LLP
Chu, Ring & Hazel LLP
DLA Piper US LLP
Dwyer & Collora, LLP
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP  
Ferriter Scobbo & Rodophele, PC
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Goodwin Procter LLP
Goulston & Storrs - A Professional Corporation
Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP
Holland & Knight LLP
Kotin, Crabtree & Strong, LLP
Mackie Shea O'Brien, PC
Margolis & Associates
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
Nixon Peabody LLP
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Office of the Attorney General
Office of the Corporation Counsel
Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
Posternak, Blankstein & Lund LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Rubin and Rudman LLP
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office
Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, P.C.
Todd & Weld LLP
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Verrill Dana, LLP
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP