Paid Summer Fellowship for Diverse 1Ls
LARRY D. THOMPSON LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
2019 – 2020 Program Description
PAID Summer placements in Purchase or White Plains, NY; or Plano, Texas
Applications are due January 17, 2020
As one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies with over $63 billion in net revenue, PepsiCo leverages diversity and engagement as a competitive business advantage – one that fuels innovation, attracts world class talent, and fosters valuable relationships with customers, consumers, and the communities in which we operate worldwide. Accordingly, PepsiCo is proud to honor its former general counsel, Larry Thompson, with a summer fellowship designed to promote diversity in the legal profession and advance PepsiCo’s commitment to supporting the development of professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Throughout his career, Mr. Thompson has been a steadfast champion of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and a mentor to diverse attorneys. While at PepsiCo, he began the company’s outside counsel diversity initiative, which annually evaluates law firms to ensure that PepsiCo has the benefit of diverse legal representation from outside counsel. Prior to his tenure at PepsiCo, while serving as Deputy Attorney General, Mr. Thompson led the U.S. Department of Justice’s diversity initiative to recruit a wide range of racial, ethnic, economic, and geographic backgrounds to the Department. Through this fellowship, PepsiCo is committed to continuing Mr. Thompson’s legacy of advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
Fellowship Program
The Larry D. Thompson Legacy of Leadership Fellowship Program will award up to four fellowships to first-year law students who will also be part of the 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholars Program. Fellows will attend the 1L LCLD Scholars Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, June 2-4, 2020, and complete a 10-week program with PepsiCo in either Westchester County, New York or Plano, Texas, beginning on May 25, 2020. Thompson Fellows will receive a weekly stipend of $2,000.
Thompson Fellows in New York will rotate through PepsiCo’s headquarters in Purchase and its North America Beverages offices in White Plains. Thompson Fellows in Texas will have the opportunity to work with both Frito Lay attorneys and corporate function attorneys based in Plano. The fellowship curriculum will include guest speakers, seminars and opportunities to work in various areas, such as: • Corporate Governance, Finance & Securities • Litigation • Mergers & Acquisitions • Employment • Intellectual Property • Regulatory • Public Policy & Government Affairs • Compliance & Ethics • Corporate Citizenship
Each fellow will be assigned an attorney mentor, and all assignments will be distributed through a fellowship coordinator at each location. To learn more about the Program and hear from our past Fellows about their experiences at PepsiCo, please visit PepsiCo Larry D. Thompson Legacy of Leadership Fellowship 2017 Experience
Qualifications
PepsiCo does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or disability, or sexual orientation. All students who meet the required qualifications are eligible.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS • First-year law student (anticipated graduation date in 2022), in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school in the U.S. • Strong academic achievement • Excellence in oral and written communication skills • Contributions to promoting diversity in the legal profession
Application & Deadline
The following materials must be submitted as one combined .pdf file to PepsiCoThompsonFellowshipProgram@pepsico.com no later than January 17, 2020: • Cover letter – Please indicate preference between New York and Texas offices • Resume
2019 – 2020 Program Description • Essay – In 1,500 words or less, please describe the impact of diversity in your life or how you contribute to promoting diversity in the legal profession • Transcript(s) for undergraduate and any other graduate work prior to law school (unofficial accepted) • If selected for an interview, candidates will be asked to provide first-semester law school grades • Optional: No more than one letter of recommendation from a professional or academic reference
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2017, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world is what enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders.
For more information, visit http://www.pepsico.com.
