Top legal firms criticize law schools they hire from, accusing them of failing to address antisemitism on campuses

• 24 US law firms wrote to college deans, demanding that they tackle antisemitism on their campuses.
• Such activities "would not be tolerated at any of our firms," they wrote.

Some of the US' largest law firms have penned an open letter to law school deans, demanding that they address incidents of antisemitism on their campuses.

The 24 law firms said that their recruiters will only consider graduates who are "prepared to be an active part of workplace communities that have zero tolerance policies for any form of discrimination or harassment."

"We also would not tolerate outside groups engaging in acts of harassment and threats of violence, as has also been occurring on many of our campuses," they wrote.

This follows a call last month by a law professor from the University of California Berkeley who urged law firms not to hire students with antisemitic views.

The open letter, published on Thursday, was signed by six of the top 10 US law firms by revenue — Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Skadden, Arps, Slates, Meagher & Flom, Sidley Austin, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

It began: "Over the last several weeks, we have been alarmed at reports of anti-Semitic harassment, vandalism, and assault on college campuses, including rallies calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the State of Israel."

In the aftermath of Hamas' terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, and the subsequent Israeli retaliatory strikes on Gaza, the Anti-Defamation League last week reported a nearly 400% spike in antisemitic incidents in the US.

The White House also highlighted an "alarming" rise in incidents, specifically at schools and colleges.

Cornell University experienced violent and antisemitic threats made online against some Jewish students over the weekend, leading to the arrest of Patrick Dai, 21, who was accused of posting messages calling for the deaths of Jewish people in an online forum.

A number of Jewish college students are planning to sue several elite universities, including Cornell and Harvard, over a perceived inaction on antisemitism.

In the letter, the law firms said there is "no room" for antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, or other forms of bigotry "on your campuses, in our workplaces, or our communities."

It also said that educators have a responsibility to provide students with the "tools and guidance" to engage in debates peacefully, even on "emotionally charged" issues.

The law firms added in the letter that they hoped colleges would take an "unequivocal stance" on ending antisemitism on campuses, with the signatories committing to work with the deans to find a resolution.

On Wednesday, both Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania announced that they were forming a task force to address antisemitism on campus.