Major law firm ends on-campus Harvard recruiting after president's response to genocide of Jews

Edelson PC, a major national law firm representing plaintiffs, said it will no longer participate in on-campus recruiting events at Harvard Law School, citing how the university president refused to condemn calls for the genocide of Jews before Congress. 

"Regrettably, I must address a recent incident that has deeply concerned us. We, along with the rest of the nation, observed Dr. Claudine Gay’s testimony before Congress, wherein she refused to unequivocally state that advocating for genocide would breach the school’s code of conduct," the law firm's founder, Jay Edelson, wrote in a letter last week to Harvard Law's recruitment office.

Edelson acknowledged that Gay apologized days after the hearing following her statements that calling for the genocide of Jews depended "on the context" as to whether it violated Harvard's rules against bullying and harassment. 

"Despite her belated apology, the gravity of her initial response cannot be overlooked. As an expert in political and social studies, Dr. Gay certainly knew to expect the types of questions that would be asked of her," Edelson wrote in his letter. 

Additionally, because Gay's colleagues had been asked the same question before Gay and she had time to prepare with a crisis management team before the hearing, her answer "cannot be seen as merely a slip of the tongue," Edelson also said. 

Rather than punishing current students who committed to Harvard before the recent antisemitism controversy, Edelson said his firm is "exploring alternative channels to connect with those students interested in opportunities at Edelson PC, ensuring that our actions are directed appropriately at the administration and do not penalize students for matters beyond their control."

The law firm's decision to not recruit on campus at Harvard comes as the school saw a 17% decline in early applications this fall.

Antisemitic incidents have increased across the nation since Oct. 7, when Hamas invaded Israel and killed approximately 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 others. 

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