1L Scholars Program Manager Nancy Richardson (top left) opens the Virtual Social Hour session in conjunction with the 2021 1L LCLD Scholars Virtual Summit. (Photo by Stella Varga)
LCLD would like to thank the 176 LCLD Member organizations that are hosting internships for more than 600 1L Scholars this summer. Shattering last year’s record of 520 1L Scholars, the group had access to the 2021 1L LCLD Scholars Virtual Summit, May 18-20, which was designed specifically to help develop the careers of diverse, first-year law students.
We’d like to extend a special thanks to Platinum Sponsor DLA Piper LLP and Gold Sponsor Troutman Pepper LLP, who helped make this year’s summit possible. We’d also like to thank the LCLD attorney volunteers who conducted the Scholars’ Virtual Mock Interview Day on May 20.
The summit began with a presentation on “Leveraging Your Personality Type to be Effective at Work,” by Carrie Fletcher, Affiliate Instructor at Harvard Law School Executive Education. Scholars examined their TypeCoach assessment results and learned strategies for working across personality types. Then the Scholars heard the much anticipated “Law Firm Mechanics” session, presented by Scott Westfahl, Director of Executive Education and Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School. Westfahl explained how medium-to-large law firms are organized and how their economic and human capital models work.
Scholars also had the opportunity to attend an informal Virtual Social Hour event in the evening, where they gathered in small breakout groups to learn more about each other.
2021 1L Scholars during a small breakout session during the summit. (Photo by Stella Varga)
The next day, Scholars heard entertaining insights in “What I Wish I Had Known” by Demetra Liggins, 2012 Fellow, Partner at Thompson & Knight LLP, and Co-Founder of Corporate Homie; and her twin sister Bemetra Simmons, Chief Strategy and Operations Officer of United Way Suncoast and Co-Founder of Corporate Homie.
The meeting sessions ended with an enlightening presentation on “Everyday Wellness” by Jill Long, 2014 Fellow and Partner at Glassman Coaching + Consulting. During this session, the Scholars learned practical strategies for reducing stress and incorporating mindfulness into their everyday lives as law students that they can also take with them as they enter the legal profession.
On June 3, the Scholars are also invited to attend a “Presence and Messaging” session presented by Chris De Santis, Specialist in Management and Organization Development. In this highly interactive session, the Scholars will receive an overview of what it means to have “executive presence,” learn the basics of effective messaging, and create messages in the form of “Unique Value Propositions” and/or “Elevator Speeches.” This session will also be open to preregistered diverse 2L interns at LCLD Member organizations.
In the evening, Scholars will have another Virtual Social Hour to get to know each other informally via small group breakout sessions.
Prepared with the insights from the 1L Scholars programming, we wish the 2021 1L Scholars the best and believe they will make the most out of their internships at LCLD Member organizations and their overall careers.
Jessica Sabesan is the Senior Communications & Marketing Manager at LCLD. For questions about the 1L Scholars Program, please contact Nancy Richardson, Program Manager.
