The Thurgood Marshall Bar Association (“TMBA”) is proud to announce its 2022 Summer Associate Program. TMBA is an Orange-County-based non-profit organization committed to connecting, supporting, and increasing the Black legal community in Orange County and to promoting diversity, professional improvement, and the advancement of justice. As part of that commitment, TMBA designed the Summer Associate Program to provide Black law students with substantive legal and professional experiences to support their development as attorneys. Our Summer Associates will be paired with our Program Partners for a six (6) to eight (8) week, full-time program.

The Summer Associate Program is open to current first and second year law students who have a record of accomplishment, leadership, and community service. Applicants must be able to participate for the entire duration of the program tentatively beginning Monday, June 6, 2022.
 
Under the guidance of supervising attorneys at our Program Partners, Summer Associates will be given opportunities to develop their legal skills by working on real cases and matters that allow them to put what they have learned in school into practice. In addition, through lunches and networking events when feasible, Program Partners will provide Summer Associates with opportunities for mentoring and career advice.

Law student applicants may join the Summer Associate Program after successfully interviewing with TMBA and the Program Partners. TMBA will conduct screening interviews once law students timely apply to the Summer Associate Program. Program Partners will then interview the screened law student candidates and offer a Summer Associate position to successful candidates. Summer Associates will be paid by each Program Partner employer, unless a Program Partner is a public interest organization. The Program does not provide housing or reimbursement for travel. Summer Associates may or may not receive an offer of employment upon completing the Summer Associate Program.

Eligibility Requirements

The applicant must be a first or second-year law student. Law students from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession are encouraged to apply. The applicant must be in good academic standing
 
Criteria

Eligible law students must submit the following to jordan.melonie@dorsey.com: 

• Completed application form
• Resume (which should include the name and contact information of two (2) references, as well as all law clerk related experience)
• Official transcripts
• One writing sample (five pages maximum) to jordan.melonie@dorsey.com.

*To be clear, applicant information must be submitted ELECTRONICALLY.

**If the applicant’s law school must mail the transcript, transcripts should be mailed to Melonie Jordan, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 2000, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.  Applicants who must mail their transcript should also electronically submit a “grade report” listing their courses and grades in Word format.
 
Participating Program Partner Employers

• Dorsey & Whitney LLP
• Elder Law and Disability Rights Center
• Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP (Knobbe Martens)
• Public Law Center
• The Torkzadeh Law Firm, PLC (TorkLaw)
• Small Business Administration
• Veterans Legal Institute.

*Additional employers may join as Program Partners

Key Dates

• Application Period: Monday, December 13, 2021 to Friday, January 28, 2022 ** priority given to applicants submitted before the original deadline of January 14, 2022
• Screening Interview Notification: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
• Callback Interviews and Offers Extended: TBD
• Orientation: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
• Program Dates: Monday, June 6, 2022 - Friday, July 29, 2022 (tentatively)
• Midsummer Social Event: Thursday, June 30, 2022
• Exit Interviews: Monday, August 1, 2022 – Friday, August 5, 2022