ASPIRE has been designed to provide complimentary access to LexisNexis services to 2009 law school graduates in response to the increasing trend of deferring fall associates’ start dates.

Any graduate accepted as an associate at a professional law firm whose start date has been deferred and who has elected to pursue nonprofit work during their deferral period is eligible to participate in the programme.

The ASPIRE programme provides complimentary access to a robust LexisNexis menu consisting of federal and state case law, codes, regulations and law reviews to equip graduates with resources to effectively support their nonprofit and public interest work. In addition to LexisNexis research that graduates need for practice at nonprofit organizations, online training and other training materials will be provided. To join ASPIRE, graduates may visit www.lexisnexis.com/aspire. Eligibility criteria for the program are outlined on the website.

LexisNexis is also providing access to public interest and pro bono job opportunities through its Career Center for legal professionals. To access the Martindale-Hubbell Career Centre, graduates may visit www.martindale.com/careercenter. Public interest organizations can post job opportunities on the site free of charge.

“In the current economic environment, almost two-thirds of the AmLaw 100 firms are delaying start dates for new hires,” says Robert Romeo, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Research and Litigation solutions. “Of those firms, some are recommending – even requiring – new hires to pursue nonprofit work. The LexisNexis ASPIRE programme is intended to help provide the tools law firm graduates need to be successful in their public interest endeavors.”