The following is the text of NALP Policy Memorandum 101 adopted by the Board of Directors on June 9, 1989 and last amended February 26, 2021.
NALP is committed to helping make the legal profession accessible to all individuals on a non-discriminatory basis. NALP is opposed to discrimination based upon actual or perceived gender, age, race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, parental, marital, domestic partner, civil union, military, or veteran status.
To support this commitment, NALP has adopted Principles for a Fair and Ethical Recruitment Process (the Principles) to guide its members in lawful and ethical recruitment practices.
Inappropriate interviewing behavior, unfortunately, is still a reality. Illegal or unacceptable inquiries, behavior or considerations too often continue to enter into recruiting activities and decisions. NALP deplores discrimination and unfair employment and recruitment practices whenever and wherever they occur including within NALP. Such practices taint the recruiting process and undermine the ethical foundations of the legal profession. NALP's Principles compel us to conduct all activities related to the recruitment and hiring of law students at the highest ethical and professional level and to keep law students safe and free from harassment, discrimination, and bias throughout their recruiting and summer associate time.
NALP supports its members in their efforts to enforce any and all aspects of their non-discrimination policies. Each law school must apply its own policies and rules for assuring the recruiting activities involving their own students are as fair as possible, and for determining which employers are eligible to participate in the school's career planning and development services. So too does each employer determine which law schools meet its criteria for fairness and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
NALP provides educational programs and materials to assist member employers and schools in developing policies and programs to promote implementation of NALP's Principles and sensitize members to the importance and value of fair recruiting practices; to carry out lawful and effective recruiting and hiring efforts; and to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion through their hiring activities.
NALP is committed to working with legal employers and law schools to develop additional educational programs on recruiting and to serve as a clearinghouse for information and ideas. The organization will also continue to promote compliance with NALP's Principles through constructive and effective educational initiatives. The twin goals of these efforts will be to ensure that no individual is subjected to discrimination on any basis in the future and to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level in legal employment.
