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Information about OnRamp Fellowships

NJWLA Members,

As you know, NJWLA is passionate about increasing and sustaining diversity in our profession.  To that end, we are pleased to inform you of an innovative initiative in the legal profession called the OnRamp Fellowship.  The Fellowship helps place experienced women lawyers, who have taken a break from practicing law for one reason or another, in yearlong, paid fellowships in law firms.  This re-entry platform gives returning women lawyers a chance to broaden their legal experience, skills, and contacts while demonstrating their tremendous value in the marketplace. 19 major law firms are offering 120+ positions in more than 29 cities across the U.S., including Princeton, Atlantic City, and Roseland.

Please see below for more information on the positions available, eligibility requirements, and benefits to the women lawyers who participate.  If anyone you know is interested, please direct them to www.OnRampFellowship.com. Thank you!

Fellowship Positions Available

The 19 participating firms (listed below) have posted positions across the country in 29 cities, including:  Atlanta, Atlantic City, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Broomfield, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Palo Alto, Philadelphia, Princeton, Reston, Roseland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Tampa, Twin Cities, and Washington, D.C. Opportunities exist in more than 15 practice areas, including antitrust, corporate, emerging companies, energy, FDA regulatory, finance, gaming, government contracts, intellectual property, international trade, investment management, labor and employment, litigation, real estate, securities, tax, tech transactions, trusts and estates, and white collar.

Review the available positions by clicking here.

Participating Law Firms – 2015 Expanded Pilot Program

Akerman Covington & Burling Fried Frank Orrick
Baker Botts Crowell & Moring Goodwin Procter Sidley Austin LLP
Baker Donelson Fenwick & West Hogan Lovells Pillsbury
Blank Rome Fish & Richardson Jenner & Block White & Case
Cooley Fox Rothschild K&L Gates  

Program Eligibility

Women lawyers who have at least three years of legal experience and have taken a hiatus from the practice of law for two or more years are eligible to apply.  Applicants also need to be licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction where they plan to apply for a Fellowship.  This re-entry program is for women lawyers who are currently unemployed as well as those who are working in temporary/contract jobs or in non-legal jobs due to the barriers faced when attempting to re-enter the legal profession after a hiatus from practicing law.

Please note:  Since a goal of the Fellowship is to increase the number of women in leadership roles within law firms, applicants should have a strong interest in working for and advancing within a law firm environment.

Benefits to Participating Women Lawyers

  • A paid, one-year training contract with a top law firm to gain additional legal experience, skills, and contacts;
  • Unlimited, free access to online continuing legal education (CLE) courses;
  • Training by specialists in negotiations, leadership, oral advocacy, project management, and business development; and
  • Counseling from experienced legal-career coaches.
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  • Colleen Skinner - Executive Director
    (973) 819-9488
    cskinner@njwla.org

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