“Diversity pays. Working with a diverse group of people is not only stimulating and enjoyable, it also creates new opportunities for challenging and interesting work.”  

- William T. Coleman, Jr.

William T. Coleman, Jr. (1920 - 2017), a longtime senior partner and indelible part of O’Melveny’s fabric, served the legal profession and his country for more than 50 years. A tireless advocate for equality and a key player in the landmark Supreme Court civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, Coleman urged young lawyers to cultivate their cultural literacy and pay close attention to events unfolding on the world stage. To honor that vision and spirit, O’Melveny created the William T. Coleman, Jr. Diversity Fellowship for second year law students in his memory.

O’Melveny seeks to not only hire lawyers of diverse backgrounds but also to hire individuals who share our vision of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive legal profession. Our Fellowship is for individuals with a proven track record of activities that promote civil rights, social justice, and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion, including professional employment, internships, volunteer positions, student group memberships, leadership roles, and academic coursework and performance.

The Fellowship

Each Coleman 2L Fellow is eligible for an award up to $50,000 to be paid in phases:

1)  $25,000 of the award will be paid upon joining our summer program as a 2L summer associate; and
2)  an additional $25,000 payment will be awarded upon returning as a new associate.

How to Apply

O’Melveny is recruiting summer associates for our 2024 summer program. Summer associates who receive an offer to join the summer program are eligible for our 2L Coleman Fellowship program. Candidates interested in being considered for the Fellowship must submit application materials through our online portal between May 15 and August 15, 2023. Fellowship award recipients will be notified on a rolling basis. Once a candidate has been notified of selection as a Fellow, the candidate must accept or decline the offered Fellowship within one (1) week of notification.

Candidates must submit: (1) a cover letter; (2) a resume; (3) undergraduate and law school transcripts; (4) legal writing sample; (5) a personal statement of 300 words or fewer that reflects on how you have and will continue to exemplify Bill Coleman’s legacy by receiving the Coleman Fellowship. As part of O’Melveny’s recruiting process, candidates will be required to play Pymetrics.

The materials submitted should demonstrate:

  • Strong academic performance
  • A proven track record of activities that promote civil rights, social justice, and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion, including professional employment, internships, volunteer positions, student group memberships, leadership roles, and academic coursework and performance
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Other special achievements and honors

Submit application materials through our online career portal between May 15 and August 15. Visit O’Melveny’s career portal here.

For questions and or assistance, please contact: ommcoleman@omm.com

Law students who are immediate family members of an O’Melveny attorney or professional staff are ineligible for the Coleman Fellowship.