In October, 45 students from St. Benedict’s Prep School (SBP) were invited to visit the multinational law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell (Davis Polk) in New York City. Davis Polk is one of the most prestigious law firms in the world, ranked number four on the Vault Laws 2023 Top 100 list. The firm is one of the primary sponsors of SBP’s “Building Bridges” program, a challenge to foster improved relationships between law enforcement and students of color at SBP.
Davis Polk has made student connections a key part of its mission. Moreover, this opportunity is unique to SBP students, holding particular relevance given the historical marginalization of people of color from high-paying corporate roles.
Angela Doolan, Davis Polk’s chief strategic advisor and managing partner expressed how the experience aligned with both the firm’s and SBP’s values. “One of our goals as an institution is to support and give back to our community, and hosting this Career Day gave us the chance to do that in a meaningful way,” said Doolan.
This opportunity exposed students to the variety of work available at a leading firm. “When you think about a law firm, you mostly think about the lawyers, but there are also accountants, social workers, marketers and so many more involved with the daily operations,” said Arielle Lopina, UDI at SBP. “It shows that there are many opportunities and career paths out there.”
When students arrived at Davis Polk they were given a detailed tour of the firm. Students then listened to a “Day in The Life” panel discussion hosted by members from the human resources, litigation and IT departments of the firm, in which they got a taste of work at a law firm. The panel concluded with a question and answer segment, allowing students a chance to learn more about opportunities at Davis Polk.
Following the panel, students had the opportunity to meet Neil Barr, Managing Partner at Davis Polk. In this position, he advises companies, senior executives and boards on complicated and major transactions. Barr has represented Fortune 500 companies, major financial institutions, private equity and wealthy individuals.
He spoke to students about his experiences with Davis Polk as well as giving general advice on the workforce. “I can say that I’ve learned from him that hard work pays off as he was talking about the work he had to do to get where he got,” said Kieran Murray, a UDII.
This experience was beneficial to both the SBP community and partners at Davis Polk. “I think that it is fair to say the trip was an overall success,” said Doolan. “I look forward to seeing what more we can achieve together.”
