Diversity Fellowship Program

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The Program

The JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program is a 12 month program designed to offer the full breadth of the JAMS resources for emerging alternative dispute resolution ( ADR) professionals who have demonstrated resilience and excellence on their path toward a career in ADR. The Fellowship Program will provide training, mentorship, sponsorship, and networking opportunities to up and coming ADR professionals. The goal is to increase pipeline opportunities in dispute resolution.

Benefits of the JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program

Mentorship and sponsorship with JAMS panelists
Access to shadowing opportunities with JAMS neutrals
Practice development and marketing guidance
Opportunity to collaborate with JAMS neutrals on thought leadership content
Monthly Invitations to our in-house mediation and arbitration training curriculum
Opportunities to attend ADR events and introductions to key stakeholders

Who Should Apply?

To qualify as a candidate for the fellowship program, JAMS is looking for individuals that possess a diverse perspective as a result of their adaptability, cultural fluency, resilience, and life experiences. We also are seeking candidates with one of the following:

Litigator with at least 10 years of experience
Academic with an ADR background
Other professional with industry-specific experience

If you are motivated to build an ADR practice or grow your existing one and are looking for opportunities to further your education and advance your career, we encourage you to apply for the JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program.

What Fellows Can Expect

The program structure is flexible and will be built around your availability and needs. At the start of the program, the fellows will complete a training and onboarding class. Throughout the program, fellows will be provided mentorships and sponsorships and shadowing opportunities.

Important Notice: During your 12-month participation within the JAMS Diversity Fellowship, should you, your company, or your firm participate in a pending JAMS arbitration or court reference matter, please immediately notify Joanne Saint Louis, Director of Diversity Outreach and Christina Benavides, Diversity Program Coordinator to ensure all proper steps are taken to maintain JAMS neutrality and meet any disclosure obligation.

How to Apply

The application form for the 2024 Diversity Fellowship Program is available here.

Additional documents required are:

A cover letter detailing your interest, experience and achievements in the ADR field.
A personal statement (one page). The personal statement should be a narrative describing your professional, and life experiences and, where relevant, identifying connections between those experiences and the broader goal of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.
A current resume/CV.
Two recommendation letters from persons knowledgeable about your interest and experience (if any) in dispute resolution.

There will be a three-step review process. The applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of neutrals and associates. There is also an interview conducted with selected finalists.

Important Notice: To maintain JAMS neutrality, we cannot accept applicants where you, your company, or your law firm has a pending arbitration or court reference matter with JAMS.

Thank you for your interest in the JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program. We look forward to receiving your application! Click here to apply.

Alumni Testimonials

Hear from members of our Class of 2022 about the fellowship experience.

Content From Our Class of 2023 JAMS Fellows

Navigating the Grey Areas of Neutrality in Reverse Auctions

Given the number of class actions and other representative matters filed across the country, a phenomenon known as the reverse auction has increasingly evolved over the past decade, which affects both the process by which these types of cases are resolved and the resulting settlement terms.

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The Power of Authenticity

Reflections during Pride Month from a JAMS neutral and JAMS diversity fellow

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Knowing What’s Ahead: Dispute Resolution Planning for Startups in the New Age of Generative AI

Perspectives from JAMS neutral Hon. Jackson Lucky (Ret.) and JAMS Diversity Fellow Erica Bristol

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Neurodiversity in the Workplace

JAMS Neutral Robin Gise, Esq., and JAMS Diversity Fellow Maurice Q. Robinson Esq., PHR detail 10 ways that mediation can support a neuroinclusive DE&I strategy

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The JAMS Fellowship: One Year Later

A Q&A Session with Genesis Fisher, Cyrus Dugger and Rachel Gupta

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Frequently Asked Questions

+ How long is the JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program?

+ 12 months.

+ Will Fellows receive payment for their participation in this program?

+ There is no monetary compensation for participating in program. The value is in the experiences and access that the program provides.

+ How often does the program run?

+ A new class of Fellows will be chosen every two years.

+ What adjustments, if any, are you making to the program in light of COVID-19?

+ This fellowship program adheres to the JAMS COVID policy and procedures and provides virtual, hybrid and in-person networking, training and shadowing opportunities to accommodate participants

+ What's the difference between the JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program and other internship programs?

+ The JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program will provide Fellows with ongoing training, shadowing opportunities, limited funding to attend conferences and marketing support, such as opportunities to speak on panels and write articles.

+ What qualifications should an applicant have to be considered for the JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program?

+ The JAMS Diversity Fellowship Program is designed to attract legal practitioners with at least some experience in ADR (mediation or arbitration). JAMS is looking for individuals that possess a diverse perspective as a result of their adaptability, cultural fluency, resilience, and life experiences. Applicants should be ADR practitioners motivated to start or build their practice. Preference will be given to litigators with at least 10 years of experience, academics with an ADR background and other professionals with industry-specific experience.