Cincinnati Law, KMK Law Launch First Law School Diversity Case Competition

Assistant Dean Mina Jefferson, College of Law

The Center for Professional Development at the University of Cincinnati College of Law and Cincinnati law firm Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL have partnered to create the first ever Diversity Case Competition for minority law students.

The competition, targeted for law students in the Greater Cincinnati region, will be held in early 2019.

“This competition is likely the first of its kind in the law school arena and promises to become the gold standard for inclusion activities in the legal career space,” said Mina Jones Jefferson, associate dean, chief of staff, and director of the Center for Professional Development (CPD) at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. “We’re excited to a part of this innovative initiative and look forward to seeing its growth for years to come.”

Jefferson first pitched the idea to KMK Law because the firm was seeking a creative way to recruit diverse legal talent. As one of the key players in the legal talent field and a former president of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), Jefferson remains on the forefront of the industry.

This inaugural competition will provide a premier learning experience through a challenging case competition. In addition, participants will have opportunities to network and connect with legal and non-legal professionals from around the Greater Cincinnati area. The program will include students from the following law schools: University of Cincinnati College of Law, University of Dayton School of Law, the University of Northern Kentucky Salmon P. Chase College of Law, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and the University of Kentucky College of Law. Additional information about the program will be available in Fall 2018.

“Becoming a truly diverse and inclusive law firm is a journey,” said Bethany P. Recht, KMK Partner and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “We hope that this program will not only reflect KMK’s ongoing commitment to the journey, but also support the growth of diversity in the legal profession.”

About the University of Cincinnati College of Law

As the fourth oldest continuously operating law school in the country and a top 35 public law school as ranked by US News & World Report, UC’s College of Law has a rich history. Its distinguished alumni include a U.S. president, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and six governors. The College cultivates an intimate learning experience with a 9:1 student to faculty ratio and offers a wealth of resources, such as more than 40 student organizations, five journals and seven centers and institutes. For more information, please visit www.law.uc.edu.

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