NEW YORK, JANUARY 2, 2024: International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is pleased to announce that Howard University School of Law has joined the Firm’s multi-stakeholder public service initiative, the Weil Legal Innovators (WLI) Program, now celebrating its fifth anniversary.

The announcement about Howard, one of the nation’s most prominent historically black colleges and universities, follows shortly after The University of Chicago School of Law signed onto the program.

Weil Legal Innovators is unique among law school fellowships in that admitted students defer their first year of study at one of WLI’s 13 partner law schools to complete one year of public service at a WLI nonprofit partner organization.

“We are very pleased to welcome Howard University School of Law as the newest member of our groundbreaking Weil Legal Innovators Program,” said Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf. “We thank Howard for their partnership and look forward to working alongside them to provide unique, hands-on experiences for Howard students seeking to make a difference for our broader communities.”

The program offers selected rising law students a rare opportunity to work on some of the most pressing social and legal challenges at leading nonprofits. The Innovators focus on issues of gender equality, human rights, racial justice and ESG, among other issues.

"Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a splendid partner to Howard Law, and we look forward to working with the Weil Legal Innovators Program to further expand our commitment to developing talented lawyers dedicated to public service," said Roger A. Fairfax, Jr., Dean of the Howard University School of Law.

In developing this industry-leading initiative, Weil aims to develop the next generation of future leaders in the legal profession, in particular, cultivating leaders with an understanding of, and experience in, tackling the many social, economic and legal inequities afflicting society today. The program prepares Innovators for a successful future career in the legal profession enriched by a diversity of cross-sector and cross-industry experiences.

Each of Weil’s Legal Innovators receives a $60,000 salary and full benefits package for the length of their engagement. Upon starting law school, they receive a $10,000 scholarship toward first-year academic tuition. Weil provides robust professional development and mentorship opportunities throughout the program. The nonprofit partners also receive a $40,000 charitable contribution to help cover operating expenses and costs associated with onboarding the Innovators.

The WLI initiative is made possible by an annual investment of more than $1 million from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

The full list of WLI partner law schools now comprises Columbia Law School, Duke University School of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Harvard Law School, Howard University School of Law, New York University Law School, Stanford Law School, UC Berkeley School of Law, University of Chicago Law School, University of Michigan Law School, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, University of Texas at Austin School of Law and Yale Law School.

For more information, please visit https://www.weil.com/weil-legal-innovators.

About Weil’s Citizenship Commitment

Weil is committed to engaging as a responsible corporate citizen in the communities where we live and work. The Firm’s corporate citizenship footprint is brought to bear through Weil’s longstanding community engagement; diversity, equity and inclusion; pro bono legal service; and charitable contributions programs, including the Weil Foundation.

About Weil

Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for more than 90 years. With approximately 1,200 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in the marketplace and a first-mover in the establishment of many significant practice areas.  The Firm’s four departments, Corporate, Litigation, Restructuring, and Tax, Executive Compensation & Benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognized as leaders in their respective fields.