Sullivan & Cromwell to Screen Job Applicants for Participation in Anti-Israel Protests

Sullivan & Cromwell, a prestigious white-shoe law firm known for its high-profile clients like Goldman Sachs, Google, and Tesla, has initiated a new policy to screen job applicants for participation in anti-Israel protests. According to a report by the New York Times, the firm has enlisted the services of HireRight, a background check company, to scrutinize pro-Palestinian college graduates fresh out of law school who are seeking employment.

Joseph Shenker, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, explained that the firm will review news footage, social media feeds, and viral videos to determine if any applicants have participated in protests that included incendiary or antisemitic slogans. Shenker stated that job applicants could be disqualified if they are found to have taken part in demonstrations where such phrases were chanted, emphasizing that the firm is particularly concerned about protests that devolve into “racist antisemitism.”

“People are taking their outrage about what’s going on in Gaza and turning it into racist antisemitism,” Shenker told the Times. He added that even if an applicant did not personally utter controversial phrases, their participation in a protest where such slogans were chanted could still result in disqualification. Shenker described this as an effort to combat “mob mentality” and hold individuals accountable for the overall environment of the demonstrations they attend.

Despite this stringent screening process, Shenker clarified that Sullivan & Cromwell will not interrogate applicants about their personal beliefs and opinions. The policy, he said, is focused on actions and behaviors during protests, not on individual ideologies.

The move by Sullivan & Cromwell comes in the wake of heightened tensions and massive protests across college campuses following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people and the taking of scores of hostages. Israel’s military response in Gaza subsequently sparked widespread demonstrations, with some participants chanting slogans deemed antisemitic.

In the weeks following the Hamas attacks, other prominent law firms have taken similar actions. Davis Polk, for instance, rescinded job offers for three law students from Harvard and Columbia over their alleged connection to a letter circulating across the campuses that blamed Israel. Similarly, Winston & Strawn revoked a job offer for a New York University law student who wrote in a student bar association online publication that “Israel bears full responsibility” for the Hamas attack.

The policy implemented by Sullivan & Cromwell has not been without controversy. Rawda Fawaz, an attorney with the Council on American-Islamic Relations who was hired by a major law firm after graduating from Columbia in 2022, criticized the new screening measures. Fawaz argued that such policies could stifle free speech and penalize individuals for engaging in legitimate political expression.

Despite the criticism, Sullivan & Cromwell’s policy appears to be part of a broader trend among elite law firms, with several considering adopting similar measures. The firm employs more than 900 lawyers across 13 offices on four continents, making its decisions influential in the legal industry.

As the debate continues, Sullivan & Cromwell’s approach raises important questions about the balance between ensuring a respectful and inclusive workplace and upholding the principles of free speech and political activism. The outcome of this policy and its potential adoption by other firms will likely have significant implications for the legal profession and beyond.