ACC STL Unleashes the Power of Diversity in Legal Internship Program

St. Louis (July 17, 2023) – The Association of Corporate Counsel, St. Louis Chapter (ACC STL), renowned for its commitment to professional development, has commenced its highly anticipated 2023 Diversity and Inclusion Summer Internship Program with six law school students working at companies throughout St. Louis.

Since its inception in 2012, the ACC STL Diversity Internship Program has been instrumental in providing participants with invaluable exposure to in-house practice. Throughout the program, these aspiring legal professionals will gain comprehensive insights into various realms of legal advocacy and corporate practice, while understanding the crucial relationship between business and legal advice across diverse substantive areas.

Vikas Sunkari, ACC STL 2023 Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Senior Managing Counsel at SSM Health, expressed the chapter's unwavering dedication to fostering change. "Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is unwavering. Through this internship program, we aim to make meaningful strides in mentoring and supporting law students who are often underrepresented in the legal profession," emphasized Sunkari.

The 2023 ACC STL Summer interns and where they are working include:

• Bhavya Arora, a student at Washington University School of Law, is interning at Charter Communications.
• Andre'a Charles, also from Washington University School of Law, is interning at Washington University's Office of the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel.
• D’Andre Gaye, attending Saint Louis University School of Law, is interning at Rabo Diversified Services.
• Latianna Johnson, a student at Saint Louis University School of Law, is interning at Bunzl.
• Ozoda Saburi, attending the University of Missouri School of Law, is interning at Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.
• Zai Li, a student at Washington University School of Law, is interning at Bayer CORP Science.

Each Diversity Summer Intern is thoughtfully paired with an experienced in-house attorney mentor, who is also an ACC STL member. The program aims to enhance diversity and inclusion in the St. Louis legal community, paving the way for students to forge prosperous careers in regional law firms and corporate legal departments. Apart from immersive internships, the ACC STL also provides additional educational and networking opportunities to empower the interns throughout the summer and beyond.

About the ACC STL:

The Association for Corporate Counsel of St. Louis (ACC STL), the pre-eminent professional development organization serving in-house counsel, was founded in 1987. The St. Louis chapter has more than 630 members who represent more than 100 organizations. During its 35-year-history, the ACC STL has been recognized as one of the leading chapters in the country by the national Association of Corporate Counsel, having received the Gold Chapter of Distinction in 2019-22. To learn more, please visit, https://www.acc.com/chapters/stlouis/.