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STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION
As stated above, the PDLG Program is
open to any first-year law student (Class of 2011) if you have overcome
substantial obstacles in pursuing your goal of a legal career or come from a
disadvantaged background or one that is underrepresented in the profession.
Additional criteria include academic record; leadership; oral and written
communication, research, analytical and organizational skills; sensitivity to
professional ethical concerns; maturity, judgment, and integrity; commitment to
the practice of law, commitment to hard work; demonstrated interest in the type
of work practiced by the employers in the program; the ability to instill
confidence in others; the ability to diagnose and plan solutions to problems;
initiative; professionalism; relevant work experience; extracurricular
activities and interests and other indicia of the potential for success. In
addition, candidates will demonstrate a serious commitment to practice in the
Philadelphia area.
If you are a student in the evening
division of a law school you are eligible to participate in the PDLG Program,
provided you: (i) will have completed the equivalent
of one year of law school by May 2010 and will graduate in
2012, and; (ii) have no
time obligations that might interfere with your full-time commitment to the
summer employer. Full-time commitment is more than 9 to 5 - in
many firms the work day can extend significantly past 6 p.m.
Please note in the application if you
are an employee, officer or director of a company, firm or other organization
or entity that has a potential conflict of interest for any employer listed
above so that if you are selected for an employer interview you will not be
assigned to that employer.
The application will include: (i) a
completed application form; (ii) a current resume; (iii) official transcripts
of undergraduate and first semester law school grades; (iv) two personal
recommendations (at least one academic reference from law school); (v) a
personal statement; (vi) a writing sample from a law school course; and (vii)
such other information as the PDLG requests or you believe is relevant. A
first semester transcript will have to be submitted as soon as it is available.
One of the application requirements is
a brief personal essay explaining why you meet the criteria for the
program including the definition of diversity. The first part of this essay
also is your opportunity to describe how
you have overcome obstacles and disadvantages in your life and what you believe
are your most important or unique qualities, attributes, goals and/or
achievements. In the second part of this essay you should describe your
connections to the Philadelphia area and why you have an interest in practicing
law here. The essay should have no more than 250-500 words, typed on 81/2 by 11
inch paper.
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