2025 Portland 1L Diversity Fellowship

At Stoel Rives, we believe that a more diverse law firm is a better law firm. Our dedicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager facilitates numerous internal events and programming to raise awareness and celebrate diversity in collaboration with our active DE&I Committee. These create an open dialogue among our lawyers and staff that we hope will further lasting change and continue to build on our culture of inclusivity and collaboration.

We are pleased to have achieved Mansfield Rule Certification Plus. In 2025, we are excited to offer two 1L Diversity Fellowships to law students in Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA. Fellows will receive a paid 1L summer associate position and a $15,000 academic scholarship for their 2L year. Applications will be accepted online from December 1, 2024 – January 5, 2025.

What We’re Looking For

• Good standing as a first-year law student from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Ability to bring a diverse perspective to the firm because of your adaptability, cultural fluency, resilience, and life experiences.
• Demonstrated record of academic achievement, excellent writing and interpersonal skills, leadership, and community involvement.
• U.S. citizenship or authorization to work in the United States.
• Interest in starting your legal career as a practicing attorney in Portland, OR.

What to share with us

• Current resume
• Transcripts for all degrees (completed and in-progress)
• NALP Common Application for First-year Diversity Fellowship Programs – access it here
• Personal statement of 500 words or less explaining, using specific examples, how your personal, academic and/or professional background and experiences will allow you to offer a diverse perspective to our team and the clients we serve
• Legal writing sample that has not been substantially edited by others (5-10 pages double spaced).

What We Are Doing to Ensure A Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Environment

Stoel Rives places a high priority on attracting and retaining lawyers and business professionals with different backgrounds and life experiences. This makes us better and happier as people, as an organization, and as legal advisers. We are proud to offer many engagement opportunities including a firmwide DE&I Committee, Associates Committee, Pro Bono Committee, Affinity Groups, and Parenting Circle.

We proudly partner with Diversity Lab to implement innovative programs to advance Stoel Rives’ DE&I goals, including the aggressive metrics-based goals we’ve adopted as one of five founding Move the Needle firms. Our efforts with Diversity Lab include certification under the Mansfield Rule, to boost the representation of diverse lawyers in our firm’s leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for opportunities. Additional information on these programs, can be found here.