America's largest law firms pen stern letter to Ivy League schools warning them ... trends now
A group of America's top law firms have sent a message to elite law schools warning them to crack down on anti-Semitic demonstrations, or they will stop hiring their students.
In a letter addressed simply to 'Deans,' about two-dozen of the nation's top Wall Street firms warned that what takes place on campus may very well have corporate consequences.
'Over the last several weeks, we have been alarmed at reports of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism and assaults on college campuses, including rallies calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the state of Israel.
'Such anti-Semitic activities would not be tolerated at any of our firms,' read the letter, which was signed by firms that include Kirkland & Ellis; Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; and Sullivan & Cromwell.
The letter continued: 'As employers who recruit from each of your law schools, we look to you to ensure your students who hope to join our firms after graduation are prepared to be an active part of workplace communities that have zero tolerance policies for any form of discrimination or harassment, much less the kind that has been taking place on some law school campuses.'
In a stern concluding paragraph, the firms tell the 'Deans' that they 'trust you will take the same unequivocal stance against such activities as we do, and we look forward to a respectful dialogue with you to understand how you are addressing with urgency this serious situation at your law schools.'
One of the firms that signed the letter, David Polk & Wardwell, rescinded several job offers last month to students who had signed letters blaming Israel for the barbaric October 7 Hamas terror attack.
Another prominent firm whose name does not appear on the letter, Winston & Strawn, rescinded the job offer it previously gave to Ryna Workman, the president of the NYU Law Student Bar Association.
Last month, in a letter written and signed by Workman, the law student, who uses non-binary pronouns, wrote that 'Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life,' adding: 'I will not condemn Palestinian resistance.'
Winston & Strawn called Workman's comments 'inflammatory' and said they 'profoundly conflict' with the values of the firms.
At the time, the firm said in a statement: 'As communicated yesterday to all Winston personnel, we remain outraged and deeply saddened by the violent attack on Israel over the weekend. Our hearts go out to our Jewish colleagues, their families, and all those affected.'
The firms' letter follows a significant number of recent anti-Semitic episodes that have played out across university campuses, including - most recently - a number of seriously violent messages threatening the Jewish community at Cornell University.
Many university presidents have been chastised for assuming what have often appeared to be weak and equivocal positions in response to the October 7 attack, and the rise of anti-Semitism on campus
