Civil Rights
Former DLA Piper summer associate sues firm for allegedly revoking job offer over Palestinian ties
A former summer associate at DLA Piper is suing the law firm for alleged discrimination because of her Palestinian origin and pro-Palestine activism. (Photo from Shutterstock)
A former summer associate at DLA Piper is suing the law firm for alleged discrimination because of her Palestinian origin and pro-Palestine activism.
Yasmeen Elagha alleged in a complaint filed Monday in the Northern District of Illinois that DLA Piper partners and associates “repeatedly” asked her questions about her “race, ethnicity, national origin, religion and views concerning Palestine and Israel” while she was a 2L summer associate with the firm in 2023, Law.com reports.
Elagha said she concealed her Palestinian identity at that time, but after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, she began speaking publicly about the conflict between Palestine and Israel, Law.com reports. She also participated in a protest at Northwestern University, where she was a law student.
Elagha had received a full-time offer from DLA Piper but alleged in her complaint that the firm rescinded that offer in July 2024, after asking about her pro-Palestine activism in a new-hire questionnaire, Law.com reports. Elagha also alleged in the complaint that false accusations that she assaulted another student was one reason for the firm’s decision.
Camille Olson, a partner at Seyfarth Shaw, who represents DLA Piper, told Law.com that “the firm decided against hiring Ms. Elagha as a result of her own unacceptable conduct. There was no unlawful discrimination.”
Elagha also is suing the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law for allegedly failing to prevent the harassment and false claims of criminal conduct that caused her to lose her employment offer from DLA Piper, Law.com reports.
Bloomberg Law has additional coverage, including a copy of Elagha’s complaint.
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