NEW YORK – May 21, 2018 – International law firm Brown Rudnick is pleased to introduce the first-ever 1L Social Mobility Diversity Fellow, W. Lydell Benson Jr. The Fellowship is a groundbreaking program aimed at first-year law students who are also the first members of their family to graduate from college. The Fellowship, unlike any other law firm-sponsored honors program, provides the recipient with an opportunity for substantive work and professional development experience, as well as a significant scholarship.

Benson is a first-year law student at George Washington University Law School and will be working out of Brown Rudnick’s New York office as a summer associate.

“This Fellowship program really resonated with me and demonstrated a true commitment to diversity and providing opportunities to people of all backgrounds,” Benson said. “When I was searching for opportunities, this Fellowship caught my eye not just because it was a great opportunity to get hands-on work experience with a prominent law firm, but also because it was the first time I had come across a law-firm diversity program targeting those who are the first in their family to graduate from college. I take a lot of pride in being the first in my family to graduate from college. My family and the people in my community are really proud of me, too.”

The 1L Social Mobility Diversity Fellowship is a holistic program to support students during their time as a summer associate at Brown Rudnick and throughout the academic year. Benson will work on a wide variety of matters as an integral member of client teams. He is also eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $22,500, in addition to his summer associate compensation.

Once Benson returns to school in the fall, he will continue to have regular check-ins with his recruitment champion, partner Jeff Jonas. Brown Rudnick will arrange for Benson to attend firm events, holiday parties, networking events and professional development training throughout the year. The firm will also provide financial support for academic groups Benson is involved in at George Washington University Law School.

“As I am also the first in my family to graduate from college, I am particularly passionate about this Fellowship program,” said Ari Joseph, Director of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity at Brown Rudnick. “The challenges that such an individual must overcome can be overwhelming, and are often overlooked or underestimated. This unique Fellowship is focused on the problem of social mobility and economic inequality, as well as diversity. It is truly a one-of-a-kind program and Lydell is the perfect choice for our first Fellow.”

Benson will work alongside 10 other Brown Rudnick summer associates who come from law schools across the country: Richard Darst, Meghan McCafferty, Maureen Sweeney, Samuel Toomey, Korey Wilson, Yarelyn Mena, Ijeoma Ozoma, Erio Vignali, Matthew Lambros and Mona Goodarzi. Brown Rudnick’s 2018 summer associate class begins May 21.

First-year law students can find more information about the 1L Social Mobility Diversity Fellowship here. Questions should be referred to Brown Rudnick's Legal Recruitment Department (recruiting@brownrudnick.com).

About Brown Rudnick LLP

Brown Rudnick, an international law firm with offices in the United States and Europe, represents clients from around the world in high-stakes litigation, international arbitration and complex business transactions. Clients include public and private corporations, multinational Fortune 100 businesses and start-up enterprises. The Firm also represents investors, as well as official and ad hoc creditors’ committees in today’s largest corporate restructurings, both domestically and abroad. Founded more than 70 years ago, Brown Rudnick has more than 250 lawyers and government relations professionals providing advice and services across key areas of  the law. Beyond the United States, the Firm regularly serves clients in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. With its Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest, the Firm has created an innovative model combining its pro bono, charitable giving and community volunteer efforts.