One of the top law firms in the United States, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, is using law school student groups to collect photographs of potential applicants to its summer programs, a move experts say violates federal guidance on civil rights law and could expose the firm to liability.

Weil has asked Northwestern Law School’s Latino Law Students Association to compile a “resume book”—complete with “optional” headshots—so that the firm can “assess” candidates for its diversity fellowship and first-year summer associate program, according to a Nov. 20 email from Angela Cifarelli, a second-year law student on the affinity group’s board.

“According to Weil, headshots are completely optional,” Cifarelli told the group’s members. “We look forward to receiving your submissions and working with Weil to help them identify outstanding candidates for their programs!”

[Presumably, they look forward to litigating discrimination lawsuits in court as the defendant, too. There’s a reason why employers (other than casting directors) don’t attach photos to resumés: it leaves them wide open to discrimination complaints. Other than the exception of casting directors, an applicant’s general appearance should have no bearing on their employability. — Ed]