After C & W’s successful participation in the Allegheny County Bar Association Diversity Initiative 2012 Summer Clerkship Program, participation in the diversity program for 2013 was an easy decision. “We were pleased with last year’s clerks, Bethany and Carrie, so we didn’t think twice about continuing to support diversity by participating in the program for the Summer of 2013,” stated Rebecca Sember Izsak, the attorney liaison with the ACBA Diversity Internship Program. In fact, C & W was so impressed with Ms. Willard that she remained at the firm working part-time during the school year and returns to work full time this Summer after her second year of law school. “Bethany’s return meant that we only had one spot to fill, and we did not hesitate to commit that spot again to the ACBA Diversity Program. We are glad to add Cyara Powell as a first year clerk this summer.”

C & W’s newest law clerk, Ms. Cyara Powell was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in Marietta, Georgia. She is currently a first year law student at the University of Pittsburgh. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Howard University in Washington, DC. She joins last year’s clerk, Bethany Williard, who grew up in Central Pennsylvania and attended Clark University, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Bethany will be entering her third year of law school at Duquesne University School of Law in the Fall of 2013.

“Last year was the first year that we re‑entered into this hiring program and it went so well for both the participants and the firm that it was an easy decision to make the continued commitment to diversity in the legal community,” commented Ms. Sember Izsak. “All the attorneys at Cipriani and Werner look forward to having both Ms. Powell and Ms. Williard working at the firm this summer and exposing them to the practicalities of practicing law and, specifically litigation, in the current legal climate.”

Cyara and Bethany will be clerking at the firm through August 2013.