Three years ago, Ward and Smith established its first-ever Staff Internship Program as a separate initiative from its traditional Summer Associate Program designed for law student interns.
It aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal field by partnering with local high schools and community colleges to provide students with real-world experience in a law firm. The firm's innovative approach has yielded positive results, and its success recently earned the attention of Carolina Paralegal News, a sister publication of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Magazines.
The article entitled "An Open Mind," penned by contributing writer Teri Saylor, provides an insider's view into the firm's current internship class, showcasing the program's inner workings. Saylor delves into the program's impact, highlighting the enrichment of the office environment through the integration of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Additionally, Saylor features a selection of interns who have benefited from the program's opportunity to gain valuable insights into their potential legal careers. She also interviews Jessica Denoyer, the firm's Human Resources Coordinator, who has been instrumental in making the program happen at Ward and Smith.
Read the full article below.
