Diversity

Overview
Firm Values
History
Pro Bono
Diversity

Professional Development
 Recruiting and Hiring

At Shearman & Sterling we strongly believe that diversity in perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enhances the quality of our work and enriches our lives. Encouraging new ideas and fresh viewpoints is an integral part of how we do business—both with clients and colleagues—in today's global marketplace. Through well-developed strategies, we support an array of diversity initiatives that evoke involvement and opportunity at the firm.  Ongoing projects include:

  • On-Campus Recruiting:  In search of the best and the brightest, we recruit our associates from law schools and universities, including 33 law schools in the US and Canada.

  • Diversity Open House:  The firm hosts an annual Open House for minority and LGBT students.  The event gives students a chance to meet with partners and associates and to engage in a lively exchange of ideas and open discussions about the Firm, our work and the law.

  • The Shearman & Sterling/NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) Scholarship: In partnership with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), we annually sponsor two scholarships for African American law students, providing financial aid, mentoring and a joint summer internship with the firm and the LDF.  For more information, see our scholarship website.

  • International Associate Program: Our New York office hires lawyers qualified and practicing in countries around the world for a one-year internship.  The firm is also a participant in the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice Initiatives through which a South African attorney of color works with the firm for a six-month to one-year period in our New York office.

  • Annual Pride Luncheon: The firm hosts an annual luncheon in celebration of Pride Week and the firm's initiatives in the LGBT community.

  • Diversity Committee Summer Luncheon:  On behalf of the firm, the Diversity Committee sponsors a luncheon each year for partners, associates and summer associates featuring distinguished and diverse members of the bar as guest speakers.

  • Women Partners Summer Cocktail party:  The women partners of the firm host an annual cocktail party for the women summer associates and associates of the Firm.

  • City Bar Minority Fellowship Program: We participate in the summer internship program for outstanding minority law students who have completed their first year of law school.  Through this internship, students participate in the firm's summer associate program with the firm's emphasis focusing on mentoring.