Emory University School of Law is collaborating with UnitedLex to launch a "legal residency" program.

The program, which will be offered to recent Emory Law graduates, will participate in the two-year UnitedLex residency program will learn to use cutting-edge legal technologies and processes to provide high-quality and efficient legal services to corporate legal departments and top law firms.

"This program with UnitedLex will offer our graduates new opportunities to master emerging areas of legal practice, working with the support of experienced attorneys and industry experts," Robert Schapiro, dean and Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law, said in a statement. "They will build on their law school training, acquiring new skills and knowledge that will benefit them throughout their careers."

The legal program is similar to a medical residency in that it provides both paid full-time employment and rigorous, hands-on training. A pilot program was launched in September 2013 at the University of Miami School of Law. UnitedLex has already hired two recent Emory Law graduates and will hire more as the program grows. 

"Our legal residency program was created to address challenges facing the legal industry, including the lack of training opportunities for recent graduates and the ever-increasing costs for both the providers and consumers of legal services," Daniel Reed, CEO of UnitedLex, said in a statement. "The program represents a novel and innovative way for law schools and the legal industry to tackle a very challenging situation."

Emory University will join the University of Miami School of Law, the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Vanderbilt Law School.