Taft is pleased to announce that it is joining the University of Dayton School of Law to launch the Flyer Legal Promise Program, a program aimed at recruiting underrepresented and underserved students to law school and the legal profession. The Flyer Legal Promise Program will provide two students full law school tuition, a yearly $15,000 stipend for living expenses, mentors, summer clerkships, and a potential job at one of the firms following graduation. It will recruit students primarily from the University of Dayton’s (UD) Flyer Promise program, which started in 2017 and provides funding and mentoring assistance to underrepresented and underserved students coming from UD partner high schools. Read more about UD’s Flyer Promise program here.

“Rather than wait for diverse talent to apply to law school and then later to elite law firms, the Flyer Legal Promise Program proactively seeks, recruits, and invests in academically talented undergraduates with capacity to excel in the legal profession,” said Andrew Strauss, UD School of Law dean.

Taft Litigation partner Glen McMurry worked alongside the University of Dayton School of Law and Dayton law firm Thompson Hine to create the program.

“We are honored to partner with the University of Dayton School of Law to set a precedent for building more inclusive law firms in Dayton,” said Glen McMurry, a partner at Taft Law. “To do that effectively, we need to invest in our region’s young talent, nurture their growth, and provide them with opportunities right here in the Gem City. Taft is incredibly committed to our diversity and inclusion program and we will continue to partner with diversity leaders like the University of Dayton to develop meaningful and lasting solutions to further these important goals and better serve our community.”

Prioritizing diversity and inclusion is a key core value at Taft, for its ability to build connection, trust, creativity, accountability, and compassion towards the clients and communities it serves. Taft works with numerous organizations to establish and achieve diversity and inclusion goals across the firm. Most recently, the firm achieved Mansfield Certification Plus Status from Diversity Lab, received the Your Honor Award from the Midwest Region of the Legal Marketing Association, and was recognized by Seramount as one of the “Best Law Firms for Women.”

“It’s incredible to see the work that is being done in Dayton to provide opportunities for underrepresented and underserved talent, and there is always more to be done. At Taft Dayton, we believe that this program is a step in the right direction in creating more inclusive opportunities within our community’s legal landscape. We’re honored to be included in this program and challenge other firms to join us in this movement,” said Jennifer Hann Harrison, partner-in-charge of Taft Dayton.

To learn more about the Flyer Legal Promise Program, visit here.

To learn more about Taft’s Diversity and Inclusion program, visit here.