In response to antisemitic protests that erupted on American university campuses following Hamas's October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, Wall Street law firm Sullivan & Cromwell has introduced new hiring standards for job applicants from top law schools.
The New York Times reports that Joseph C. Shenker of Sullivan & Cromwell emphasized the need to hold individuals accountable for their participation in college protests, as well as the actions of those around them. The firm will now conduct thorough background checks on potential first-year associates to identify involvement with pro-Palestinian groups and campus protests, specifically looking for instances of antisemitism. Shenker noted that public use of the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” will disqualify applicants.
“People are taking their outrage about what’s going on in Gaza and turning it into racist antisemitism,” Shenker said.
This policy makes Sullivan & Cromwell the first Wall Street firm to publicly address such a rule, with four other major firms reportedly considering similar policies. The firm will screen applicants from prestigious law schools, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and NYU, where significant student participation in anti-Israel protests has been noted.
Some law firms have already rescinded job offers to students involved in campus protests or who signed anti-Israel statements blaming Israel for Hamas's terrorism. In November, Sullivan & Cromwell joined hundreds of other firms in urging law school deans to address campus antisemitism.
“We trust you will take the same unequivocal stance against such activities as we do, and we look forward to a respectful dialogue with you to understand how you are addressing with urgency this serious situation at your law schools,” the firms collectively wrote.
These developments come as Law Students for Palestine, a group from over 60 law schools, continues to support such campus activities. At Harvard, students displayed anti-Israel signs and Palestinian flags during graduation, while Yale graduates wore keffiyehs and held signs reading “ceasefire now” and “free Palestine.”
* The National Review contributed to this article.
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