New York, NY, August 25, 2009 … Summer associates from leading law firms across the country researched and reported on key civil rights issues this summer as part of an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) pro bono service program.   

ADL's annual Summer Associate Research Program partners with private law firms to provide their summer associates with the opportunity to conduct research on key civil rights issues.  Their reports are used to help shape ADL policy in those areas and support the League's mission.

"This program helps law firm associates gain valuable experience researching subjects of prime relevance in today's legal and civil rights landscape," said Marvin D. Nathan, ADL Civil Rights Committee Chair.  "It has multi-pronged benefits, as the associates gain a unique exposure to critical civil rights issues, the firms receive challenging and relevant research projects for their associates, and ADL can make practical use of the research and analysis produced by these young professionals."

More than 145 firms, and nearly 500 summer associates from 13 cities participated in this year's program.  The 2009 associates hail from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and  Washington, D.C.  

The subjects researched by the attorneys and future attorneys arise from current events topics and other issues stemming from the League's work.  Subject areas include hate crimes, discrimination, the separation of church and state, religious freedom, the First Amendment, immigration and international law.

Throughout the summer, the law associates are supervised by partners within their firms and consult with the League's staff attorneys on creating a body of research on topics specified by ADL.   At the conclusion of the program, the associates produce issue briefs and other research that serve as important resources in helping to craft ADL policy on key domestic and foreign policy issues.

The number of associates participating in the program has grown every year since its inception in 1999.