West Coast litigation boutique Bradley Bernstein Sands has officially welcomed the inaugural class of a unique fellowship aimed at supporting and training first-generation attorneys in an effort to diversify the industry and bridge the “knowledge gap” that many first-generation attorneys experience.

The BBS Fellowship stands apart from the more traditional legal diversity program in that it isn’t focused on institutions, catering instead to the student. The program runs in the spring so as not to interfere with their fellows’ job search, for example, and does not require its fellows to do any work for the firm. Fellows also get a $2,500 stipend.