Zechariah Etheridge, Andrew Tawiah and Kelsie Wiltse from Elon Law's Class of 2021 will work this summer in top legal placements through the North Carolina Bar Association's Minorities in the Profession 1L Summer Associate Program.
Three Elon Law students will take part this summer in a prestigious North Carolina Bar Association program that promotes diversity and inclusion in the legal profession by placing accomplished first-year students into top internships.
Zechariah Etheridge, Andrew Tawiah and Kelsie Wiltse accepted invitations for the NCBA’s Minorities in the Profession 1L Summer Associate Program, which is coordinated through its Minorities in the Profession Committee.
It is the fourth year in a row that at least three Elon Law students have secured such placements. In 2020, Elon Law tied with UNC Law for the most number of students selected for the program from a single North Carolina law school.
The summer associate program “provides corporate legal departments and major law firms in North Carolina with a recruiting vehicle through which to interview and offer summer internship positions to 1L minority law students from each of North Carolina’s law schools.”
Zechariah Etheridge
Placement: K&L Gates LLP
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina Greensboro
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and African American Diaspora Studies
Hometown: Morven, North Carolina
“I am absolutely thrilled to be working at one of North Carolina’s most prestigious international law firms as a summer associate. Upon my acceptance, many of the attorneys there flooded my email inbox, welcoming me to the team and saying how excited they were to have me join them. I am looking forward to all of the challenges and the personal growth that has yet to come.”
Kelsie Wiltse
Placement: Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC
Alma Mater: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice/Criminology
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina
“I am honored to have been selected as a summer associate for Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC through the NCBA Minorities in the Profession 1L Summer Associate Program and am excited to work for a super-regional firm that is dedicated to achieving clients’ business goals and enhancing partnerships. I am grateful to further diversity and inclusion in the legal field, while also gaining valuable experience that will serve as a strong foundation for my career.”
Andrew Tawiah
Placement: Passport Labs, Inc.
Alma Mater: University of Maryland
Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of one of the fastest-growing technology companies with a mobility software platform. I hope to develop my skills in a fast-paced environment with Passport Labs, Inc. My goal? To learn to be a better lawyer through the mentorship of the corporate counsel.”
The NCBA Minorities in the Profession Committee solicits applications from all North Carolina law schools. Schools invite students who identify as a minority to submit an application, which consists of a resume, transcript, writing sample and a statement that addresses how the applicant will contribute to diversification of the North Carolina State Bar.
An Elon Law panel identified select students to take part in an NCBA interview day in Raleigh. Each student interviewed with each potential employer in a day of round robin interviews. At the conclusion of the interview program, each employer selected one or more candidates to work as a summer associate.
“Elon Law students are continuing our school’s tradition of success through the MIP program,” said Melissa Duncan ‘06 L’09, assistant dean for career & student development. “Zechariah, Kelsie and Andrew will bring their own personal and professional experiences to their internships with the opportunity to network with attorneys and other law students while honing their legal skills this summer.
“These students’ dedication to the program and to their own personal success was apparent throughout the selection process and we are excited to see how they will build upon these summer opportunities during their time at Elon Law.”