McGlinchey Celebrates 2020 Summer Associates, Diversity Fellow
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This summer, McGlinchey Stafford welcomed six Summer Associates to work alongside our attorneys firmwide:
- Andrew Albritton (New Orleans) – 2L, Tulane University School of Law, 2019 LCLD Summer Associate
- Taylor Bennington (Cleveland) – 1L, University of Akron School of Law, 2020 LCLD Summer Associate
- Sonam James (Houston) – 2L, Texas Tech University School of Law, 2019 LCLD Summer Associate
- John Parker (Baton Rouge) – 2L, LSU Law Center
- G. Patrick Riley (Baton Rouge) – 2L, LSU Law Center
- Rachel Rowe (New Orleans) – 2L, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Given programming limitations due to Covid-19, the firm had to adapt its Summer Associate program. “In our effort to give these students as true a sense of the firm community and culture as possible, we developed a mini-curriculum for them to meet McGlinchey attorneys and senior staff from various offices and learn about practicing law,” said Kelly Lipinski, Member in the Cleveland office who helped coordinate the Summer Associate program.
As many programs in 2020 have done, the firm took its summer program online, which afforded the Summer Associates the opportunity to engage with attorneys across the firm’s national footprint, rather that interacting primarily with the team in their respective local office. McGlinchey attorneys developed a virtual training series with speakers including senior Members, Associates, and Administration from across McGlinchey’s 15 offices, covering effective legal writing; the business of practicing law; client and business development; and thriving in your first year as an Associate.
“The virtual training series was borne out of Covid limitations, but it was so beneficial that we plan to continue and grow it in the future,” said Kristi Richard, Baton Rouge Member who helped coordinate Summer Associate activities.
“I wasn’t sure what this summer was going to look like, but 6 weeks later, I’ve been able to work with a variety of attorneys and have gained hands on experience in a number of practice areas,” Taylor Bennington said. “Under the circumstances, it was the best experience I could’ve had.”
Taylor was named 2020 recipient of McGlinchey’s 1L Diversity Fellowship. The award, bestowed annually upon a first-year law student, is a distinguished honor that includes a paid Summer Associate position, a $5,000 scholarship, and formal mentoring from McGlinchey attorneys throughout the student’s law school career.
As McGlinchey’s 2020 Diversity Fellow, Taylor participated in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) 1L Virtual Scholars Summit, which took place over the course of four Tuesdays throughout the summer. The event convenes diverse law students from around the country to hone interview skills, prepare for the transition from law student to practicing lawyer, and discuss the state of diversity in the legal profession. McGlinchey was also proud to welcome back two of its 2019 Diversity Fellows, Andrew Albritton (New Orleans) and Sonam James (Houston).
The McGlinchey Stafford 1L Diversity Fellowship reflects the firm’s active commitment to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace and to promoting diversity within the legal profession. As an LCLD member, the firm has had ten attorneys participate in the LCLD Fellows and Pathfinders programs and was honored with their Law Firm “Top Performer” recognition in 2018 and 2019. McGlinchey also actively supports the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and Association of Women Attorneys, among other organizations. The McGlinchey Stafford 1L Diversity Fellowship is one element of the firm’s robust programming aimed at attracting, developing, and promoting diverse attorneys.