Denver, CO – May 20, 2021 – AltaClaro, the leading experiential training platform for lawyers and law students, is pleased to provide support and training for 1L diverse law students participating in the Colorado Pledge to Diversity’s Summer Clerkship Program.
The Summer Clerkship Program is sponsored by the Colorado Pledge to Diversity, a non-profit organization addressing the inequities faced by diverse students who have been traditionally under-represented in the practice of law.
How the Training Program Works: Participating law schools, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and the University of Wyoming College of Law, enrolled 20 of their first year (or equivalent part-time) students in the AltaClaro offering.
The eligible law students come from diverse backgrounds that have been traditionally under-represented in the practice of law including those who are ethnic, racial, or religious minorities, students with disabilities, and/or gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender students.
The students will receive access to the same high-level training that AltaClaro offers to first through fourth-year associates at top AmLaw 200 firms throughout the country. AltaClaro’s three-week training will begin May 21, 2021 and consist of an online Master Class focused on transactional matters where the students will learn practical contract drafting skills in a hybrid format through mock transactions, and live feedback sessions with highly vetted practitioners.
The students will then begin their internships at 20 premiere Denver-area law firms or in corporate law departments. Participating firms and organizations include Husch Blackwell, Hogan Lovells, Davis Graham Stubbs, Holland & Hart, Trimble Navigation and Strive Health, among other groups.
Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Director of Social Justice Initiatives Alexi Freeman from DU Law explained, “I’m grateful that the Colorado Pledge to Diversity continues to provide opportunities for our students and now even more delighted that DU has established this partnership with AltaClaro. I am confident that their innovative training will give our 1L students a leg up to hit the ground running this summer. Providing the same instruction that first through fourth-year corporate associates go through will be of immense practical value.”
Marty Katz, former Dean at Denver Law and AltaClaro’s Chief Learning Officer, noted, “The students gain the vital practical skills they need to become “practice-ready” early on in their career. AltaClaro’s form of experiential training is the state of the art for legal education and is also used in other professions that demand the highest levels of skill from their practitioners.”
Margee Fawley, Chief Talent Officer of Davis Graham & Stubbs, noted, “At DGS, we know the advantages that AltaClaro’s training provides because we use it for our corporate associates. AltaClaro’s in-depth and intense preparation will give the 1L Pledge participants the same high-quality tools that our associates receive, and they will get a head start on the competition. This is a win-win for the Pledge to Diversity and the students who will receive access to this excellent learning platform.”
AltaClaro offers beginner to intermediate level classes in M&A transactions, corporate transactions and capital markets and hopes to replicate the Program in other cities in partnership with law schools and employers around the country.
AltaClaro’s founder Abdi Shayesteh stated, “Studies have shown that providing access to legal training early on can support the success and retention of diverse and minority associates inside law firms and corporate legal departments. I remember when I was starting out as a lawyer and I didn’t have the background that many of my corporate law colleagues had. I made my own way in the corporate legal world and I’m happy to have an opportunity to give back.”
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AltaClaro, the leader in innovative experiential learning solutions for lawyers, is in New York, NY and San Francisco, CA. The company’s unique educational platform leverages personalization, assessment tools, and contextual delivery of learning modules (interactive assessments, mock transactions, short videos, and online feedback sessions with experts) to help professionals gain the vital practical skills they need to become “practice-ready.” For more information, please visit www.altaclaro.com.