DAPP Direct is a job-placement and career-readiness program for first-year, women of color law students. Founded, organized and managed by women of color lawyers in corporations, law firms and government, DAPP Direct identifies and trains women of color law students to thrive in corporate and law firm positions. The program seeks to connect law firms and corporations with talented, client-ready women of color who have excelled during their first year of law school. To facilitate this process, DAPP identifies talented students, trains them and partners with law firms and corporations across the country to place students in legal internships following their first year of law school, with the aim of providing students with top-notch legal experience and law firms with access to a population that has declined every year since 2008 – underrepresented women of color lawyers.
DAPP Direct selects participating law students through an intensive application process. Eligible students must complete an application and submit their first semester grades and a writing sample for consideration. Promising students are invited to interview with the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program’s Board of Directors and volunteers. The Board of Directors will select students to attend the DAPP Direct Job Placement Fair. Students will attend professional development, writing and other webinars and a client-readiness boot camp to ensure success during their summer placements.
For more information about how law firms, corporations, and other participating employers can gain access to a talented pool of women of color law students and the DAPP Direct Job Placement Fair, view our 2020 DAPP Direct brochure.
*Please note, we have yet to set the dates for the 2021 DAPP Direct Program. If you are interested in DAPP Direct 2021, please check back for specific dates at the end of September.*
For Employers
The DAPP Direct Job Placement Fair is a unique experience for participating employers. DAPP will pair employers with a woman of color in-house counsel (“ WOC in-house counsel”), who will assist employers in selecting a student for the summer. The WOC in-house counsel will consult with the employer to learn the firm culture, business model, and intern qualifications and characteristics desired by the institution. The WOC in-house counsel will then attend the job placement fair as the employer’s representative, and interview and select students based on their potential to be a good fit with the employer. DAPP will ultimately match employers with a student interviewed and recommended by the WOC in-house counsel. During the client-readiness boot camp, the selected student will learn about their employer’s business model and practices, along with basic skills needed to be an effective legal intern.
The benefit of participating in DAPP Direct is two-fold for employers – the ability to hire a highly-qualified, women of color law student who has received tailored professional development and other training that will maximize her chance of success, and the unique opportunity to build a relationship with a women of color in-house counsel.
For more information about DAPP Direct, if you would like to sponsor this initiative, or if your organization would like to host a student during the summer, please complete the contact form below.
For Students
The DAPP Direct Job Placement Fair gives 1L law students the opportunity to interview for a paid internship with a law firm and/or corporation during the summer after their 1L year. Selected students must attend the DAPP Direct Job Fair, which typically takes place in February. Selected students must also attend the client-readiness boot camp and other professional development training sessions as required. When in person, limited travel assistance is available upon request.
Applications for DAPP Direct are typically due during the winter. Any questions regarding DAPP Direct should be sent to admin@dappdirect.org.