Diversity Recruiting

Gibson Dunn believes that diversity among our lawyers is essential to our continued success as one of the preeminent law firms in the world. We define diversity very broadly and seek to incorporate myriad competencies, experiences, and viewpoints into our workforce and look forward to developing the next generation of Gibson Dunn lawyers.

Gibson Dunn is a proud sponsor of the SEO Law Fellowship Program and other pipeline programs. We are also actively involved in partnerships with many student groups on law school campuses across the nation. In addition to providing financial support to these organizations, our attorneys connect with law students seeking information and opportunities by participating in panel presentations, mentoring programs, receptions, and mock interview trainings.

Furthermore, Gibson Dunn offers specific program opportunities to select first-year and second-year law students in the form of our 1L Diversity Fellowship Program and 2L Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. Learn more about these opportunities, including how to apply, in the tabs above.

We are proud of our external and internal efforts to promote legal diversity. Our dedicated Diversity department, local diversity committees, office affinity groups, and Recruiting professionals are all happy to answer questions or tell you more.

Each year, we invite a small number of highly-qualified first-year law students who are committed to advancing diversity in the legal profession to join our summer program through our 1L Diversity Fellowship Program. We expect to begin reviewing applications for our 2024 1L Fellowship positions in early 2024 but will begin accepting complete applications (including a transcript with Fall 2023 grades) in December 2023. Learn more about the program, including how to apply, here.

We also invite you to read about New York real estate partner Matthew Gibbons’ experience at Gibson Dunn. Matthew not only participated in the New York office’s Summer Program as a 1L but also returned for the entirety of his 2L summer before ultimately accepting his offer to join Gibson Dunn. He is currently one of our Hiring Partners for the New York office.

As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity, Gibson Dunn offers several Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships to 2L law students who have demonstrated resilience and excellence on their path toward a career in law. Along with a monetary award, scholarship recipients also receive a summer associate position in a Gibson Dunn office. While we offer an advance application period for this scholarship program, we also participate in law schools’ formal interview programs (resume collects, preview programs, on-campus interview programs, etc.) and will conduct significant interviewing during that later timeframe. To that end, we ask that interested students applying for our scholarship program also apply to interview with us through those law school programs. During the relevant recruiting season, more information about our advance application period, including how to apply can be found here.

INTERVIEW WITH MATT GIBBONS

As a 1L, what attracted you to Gibson Dunn and what experiences were you interested in obtaining from the 1L Diversity Summer Program?

As a 1L, I initially thought that I wanted to be a litigator and was attracted to the firm’s robust and accomplished litigation practice.

Why did you return as a 2L and ultimately decide to join Gibson Dunn?

I returned as a 2L and chose not to split my second summer because based on my experience the prior summer and my interactions with interviewers from other firms during EIW, I knew that no other top firm would be able to offer the culture within which, and the people with whom, I knew my personality and career would flourish.

What advice would you give to diverse law students looking to join Gibson Dunn?

I think all law students looking to join any firm should investigate the firm’s culture to gain a true understanding of the life of a full-time associate. I found that the Gibson Dunn community truly sets this firm apart from others.

Describe what has been the best experience practicing law to date.

The best experience to date has been working for a pro bono client who provides education and healthcare services to HIV/AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe. As one means of raising money, the organization works with the children to create and sell dolls. The dolls come with a bio of the child and a description of the child’s interests. I was given a doll by the client as a show of appreciation. This was the most rewarding experience to date.

Diversity Virtual Panel Series Presentations

Below are three select recordings from a series of virtual panels featuring attorneys from across our U.S. offices who are active in several of our diversity-focused affinity groups. Please watch to learn more about each presenter’s experiences at Gibson Dunn and in the legal profession.

Karin Portlock – Of Counsel, New York (Moderator)
Mylan Denerstein, Partner, New York
Ronald Kirk, Senior Of Counsel, Dallas
Veronica Moyѐ, Partner, Dallas

Elisa Hernandez, Ph.D.
Mike Szczurek, Partner, Los Angeles
Tiaunia Henry, Associate, Los Angeles
Paul Kremer, Associate, New York
Jermaine Rodriguez, Associate, Palo Alto

Zakiyyah Salim-Williams, Chief Diversity Officer
Kahlil Yearwood, Partner, San Francisco
Kate Dominguez, Partner, New York
Lauren Blas, Partner, Los Angeles
Chantalle Schropp, Associate, Washington, D.C.