Day Pitney LLP today announced its inaugural Barbara Rosenthal Summer Internship Program. Named in memory of the firm's former executive director, the program will provide an opportunity for a diverse local-area high school student entering either 11th or 12th grade to experience working in a law firm during six weeks of the summer. The goal is to help prepare the individual for corporate and community leadership, and provide a pipeline for minority students to enter the legal profession.

"We launched the Barbara Rosenthal Summer Internship Program to provide a deserving student with a chance to learn about the inner workings of a law firm," said Robert G. Siegel, a Day Pitney partner in Hartford and member of the firm's Executive Committee. "We can't think of a better way to honor the legacy of our former executive director than to offer this program in her name."

The internship program has three components. First, the individual will be assigned to research and write a memorandum on a specific issue of relevance to the administration of the firm. Second, the intern will work for two weeks in each of three administrative departments, providing an understanding of how the law firm operates. Third, as appropriate, the intern will participate in internal firm meetings with Day Pitney Summer Apprentices, including training sessions and informational practice group meetings.

Throughout the six-week program, the intern will have two mentors, a director and a first-year lawyer, who will assist the individual in integrating into the firm during the length of the program. After soliciting application packets from Hartford-area high schools, firm officials will meet to select intern candidates to be interviewed. Desired qualifications include at least a 3.0 grade point average, very strong written recommendations, an excellent essay, and strong interpersonal communication skills.

Rosenthal began her career at Day Pitney's predecessor firm, Day, Berry & Howard, in the late 1970s, serving as director of human resources and assistant director of administration before being promoted to executive director in 1995. She retired from that role in 2001, but continued to work at the firm on a consulting basis until shortly before her death in 2007.

About Day Pitney
Day Pitney LLP is a full-service law firm with approximately 350 attorneys operating in offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, and Washington, DC. The firm offers clients strong corporate and litigation practices, with experience on behalf of large national and international corporations, as well as emerging and middle market companies and individuals.