Q. What is PAJ’s criteria for diversity?
A. The PAJ Diverse Mentoring Initiative (DMI) is open to any first-year law student who meets one or more of the following criteria: those who have faced challenges including, but not limited to, life situations in which their opportunities were diminished significantly by factors beyond their control, such as socio-economic status, discrimination, sparse academic resources or opportunities, and/or other similar adverse circumstances on their path to a legal career.
Q. Who reviews my application? Who conducts interviews?
A. Applications and initial interviews will be reviewed by the PAJ DMI Committee. The Committee comprises current members of PAJ including associates, partners, and firm founders from across Pennsylvania. Final round interviews will be conducted by the participating law firms.
Q. What should I expect during the DMI program?
A. Accepted applicants will be placed at a Pennsylvania plaintiff firm for an approximately 10-week summer program. Mentees will each be assigned a mentor at their placement and can expect to receive meaningful opportunities to write, research, and interact with clients and trial work (when possible). PAJ’s DMI Committee will ensure that mentees receive weekly training and have the chance to network with other mentees and employers across the state.
Q. Do I need to go to a Pennsylvania law school to apply?
A. Not at all! While PAJ’s DMI program is intended to offer diverse 1Ls valuable experience in plaintiffs' firms across Pennsylvania, the program is open to all law students nationwide.
Q. Should I expect a job offer from the summer program?
A. The goal of the program is to provide students with exposure to the plaintiffs bar and an introduction to working in the legal profession. However, there is no expectation that participation will lead to post-graduation employment. However, we are confident that this program will open doors for many of our mentees with plaintiffs' firms across Pennsylvania.
Q. What is the timeline for this program?
A. Here's the timeline for the 2026 program:
- December 1, 2025 – January 26, 2026: Application open
- February 2 – February 6, 2026: First round interviews
- February 16, 2026: Firm interviews with matched candidates begin
- February 27, 2026: Firm deadline for final interviews and offers
- March 6, 2026: Mentee acceptance deadline
- June 1, 2026 – August 7, 2026: 10-week summer program
Q. What is the salary for the DMI program?
A. Each mentee makes the same amount of money and works for the same number of weeks as any 1L summer associate at the placement firm or law department. PAJ does not set salaries.
Q. Do I get to choose where I work?
A. The DMI Committee will place mentees based on geographical location, practice area interest, and an emphasis on culture fit with a goal of providing each mentee with the best possible experience.
Q. Is there a grade cut off?
A. PAJ’s DMI Committee is primarily looking for students who have received A’s and B’s in law school, which equates to around a 3.0 GPA or higher. However, exceptions will be made for applicants on a case-by-case basis.
Any additional questions may be directed to DMI@pajustice.org
