The U.S. Supreme Court building stands in Washington, D.C., U.S.

Pipeline Programs

Encouraging young people to pursue legal careers begins with educating them early about the legal profession, and providing them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in law school and beyond. Latham’s investment in the next generation of lawyers and leaders includes creating and participating in pipeline programs that range from office-level partnerships with high schools to introduce students to law, democracy, and civics — to internship and fellowship opportunities that offer training, networking, and law school admissions support.

The Yale Law School Launchpad Scholars Program (Pre-Law)

The Yale Law School Launchpad Scholars Program, powered by Latham & Watkins, increases the pipeline of qualified law students by helping members of underrepresented or underserved communities navigate the law school application and admission process from start to finish. The innovative program aims to ensure that excellent applicants from all backgrounds can maximize their potential as law students and legal professionals, empowering them to become leaders in their future careers.

The Launchpad Scholars Program, open to all current college students and graduates planning to apply to law school in the fall of 2024, will provide participants with application and career readiness support, including substantial LSAT preparation, attorney and law student mentorship, and other resources that will prepare participants to apply to the law schools of their choosing.

For more information about the program and application requirements, please visit law.yale.edu/launchpad.

Ron Brown Scholar Program

The Ron Brown Scholar Program was established in 1996 to provide academic scholarships, service opportunities, and leadership experiences for young African American college students in the US. The program seeks to accelerate progress into leadership positions in a wide spectrum of professions while instilling a dedication to service. We collaborate with this Program in several ways to support rising college seniors and students who have been admitted to law school.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Programs

We’ve partnered with SEO on two programs to support students from underserved communities as they pursue careers in the legal industry:

  • SEO Law Fellowship Program

    Since 2011, we have sponsored SEO’s Law Fellowship Program to give talented students who have been accepted to top law schools the opportunity to get hands-on experience at a leading law firm through summer internships. The SEO Law Fellowship Program is open to  students from all backgrounds, with the Program relying on applicants to share what perspective they, as individuals, bring to the legal industry, which can include, but is not limited to, their race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, veteran status, disability, religious affiliation, socio-economic status, experience with the criminal justice or child welfare systems, first-generation college status or first-generation graduate student status. Program participants also join in SEO’s Corporate Law Institute, which is a lecture series and networking forum led by top corporate lawyers and distinguished law school professors that teach students critical skills for excelling during their first year of law school. Partnering with SEO on this program allows us to develop relationships with excellent legal talent early on in their careers.

  • SEO Law Catalyst Program

    We participate in SEO’s Law Catalyst program, a nine-month program that assists students from underrepresented backgrounds with applying to law school. Through this program, traditionally underrepresented law student applicants are provided with a free LSAT preparation course, assistance with law school applications, mentorship from participating law firms, and access to roundtable discussions with law school admissions officers.

BARBRI Law Preview Diversity Scholarship Program

We award numerous scholarships annually to rising 1L students to attend a week-long BARBRI Law Preview law school preparation course, designed to help prepare students for their first year of law school. Students are selected based on their commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. We also support law school exam prep courses.

Thrive Scholars

Through our sponsorship of Thrive Scholars, we support high-achieving, low-income students of color, starting in 11th grade, by providing them with opportunities and resources to help them succeed at top colleges and ultimately in law school.

Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP)

LEAP is a California-based organization that facilitates a nine-month program for pre-law students who are historically underrepresented in the legal field, including students of color, students who identify as LGBTQ+, first generation college students, students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, students who aged out of foster care, and students who have been formally incarcerated. LEAP provides participants with programming designed to prepare them for a successful law career, including LSAT prep courses, mentoring, and a moot court competition. We collaborate with LEAP by providing a financial sponsorship and mentoring for students. 

The Appellate Project

We work with The Appellate Project, a nonprofit organization empowering law students, particularly those most underrepresented, to become the next generation of lawyers and judges in our highest courts. Our partnership includes mentoring, educational workshops, and financial support. 

JD Advising

We support the JD Advising Scholars Program by sponsoring JD Advising’s free Law School Prep Course, which focuses on teaching students how to succeed academically in law school, as many aspects of a student’s law school and legal careers are guided by how well they do in the critical first year.

PracticePro

We partner with PracticePro’s Diversity Scholar Program, a coaching, training, and recruiting program designed to help law students secure their desired employment while simultaneously preparing them with the skills, knowledge, confidence, and savvy to flourish in their legal positions and climb to corporate leadership. We also provide mentorship and participation in the PracticePro Career Conferences.