In a recent move, Chicago-based boutique law firm Edelson PC has announced its withdrawal from recruiting events held by Harvard Law School. This decision comes as a response to the Ivy-league institution’s handling of antisemitic incidents on campus.
Jay Edelson, the founder and CEO of Edelson PC, made this announcement following the congressional testimony of University President, Claudine Gay, concerning the ongoing row about antisemitism on the Harvard campus. Edelson communicated his decision to the law school via a letter.
“This is not about Harvard law students. This is about the leadership of Harvard and how much of a megaphone it has on the world stage. They should use that megaphone responsibly,” Edelson remarked in comments given to Reuters. He added, “I understand that this is not going to be as relevant to them than if Skadden Arps pulled out, but I’m hoping they start seeing that even the liberal firms think this is well past a line.”
So far, Edelson PC is the only law firm to have publically distanced itself from Harvard Law’s on-campus interviewing programs. Amid this boycott, the firm plans to seek alternative avenues to entice Harvard Law students to join its ranks.
The response of other major law firms to this situation remains to be seen. These firms’ reactions could significantly impact Harvard Law’s on-campus recruiting programs given the rising concerns over the university’s approach to tackles antisemitism on its grounds.
This information first surfaced on Above the Law.