In the aftermath of nationwide university protests stirred up by the Israel/Hamas conflict in Gaza and controversial statements made by some law students, Biglaw firms have updated their vetting policies regarding the hiring process. Law firms including Winston & Strawn and Davis Polk have already rescinded offers to certain students.
Sullivan & Cromwell, a law firm with a gross revenue of $1,864,290,000 in 2023, announced an increased scrutiny in their vetting process, looking closely at political and moral views of potential hires, as per American Lawyer.
As part of the new protocol, resumes will be reviewed for participation in “pro-terrorist groups and other similar activities” along with a comprehensive examination of the candidate’s online presence, school website, and news reports. Furthermore, the firm will monitor activities from all campus organizations the student has been or is currently a part of and which do not align with their ethical standards. To ensure thoroughness, external specialists will be hired to conduct formal background checks.
The firm’s senior chair, Joe Shenker, stated that this change was not a new stance as they had consistently found any bias or hate speech to be inappropriate. He likened antisemitic behavior seen on campuses, both physical and verbal, to that of a “lynching” that didn’t require context as it was plainly wrong.
Shenker also mentioned that while they already had a robust screening system in place, the recent protests across college campuses warranted additional efforts. The firm will now pay greater attention to what potential hires post and preach on social media. In addition, they are planning to strictly vet requests for sponsorship from campus groups, by asking them to prove their commitment to a harassment-free environment.
The events that have unfolded prompt the question as to whether other law firms would follow suit in ramping up their vetting procedures.