Finnegan Links Minority Students with Mentor Opportunities

Law360 interviewed Finnegan law clerk Maram Al-Shaer, and partners Esther Lim and Kara Specht to discuss Finnegan’s Corporate Diversity Partnership program, an initiative that provides diverse summer associates with an opportunity to experience both working in a law firm and working in-house. During the nine-week Corporate Partnership program, participants split their time at Finnegan and with a corporate sponsor.

Esther said, “Those experiences are invaluable. They get to not only gain experience, skill sets and exposure to what it's like to practice at a law firm, but they also get to work with our clients and see the business side of things.”

Maram, a participant in the program, wanted to explore a legal career that incorporated her educational background in computer science and cybersecurity. She split her time between the firm and Raytheon Technologies. Marama said, “The experience definitely connected me with people I wouldn't otherwise have been connected with.”

Kara, who serves as a mentor and co-lead of Finnegan FORWARD, the firm’s women’s business initiative, said participants get direct mentoring from in-house counsel and a better understanding of what a client needs from its outside counsel. “They get the best of both worlds,” she said. "We get summer associates here at Finnegan for a period of time, and then they really get to take a step back and move in-house for a portion of their summers. It's a richer experience across the board."

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