New
Nonprofit to Assist Legal Organizations with Diversity and Inclusiveness
The Core Strategy Group of the Deans' Diversity Council is proud to
announce the formation of a new nonprofit dedicated to educating the legal
community about diversity and inclusiveness.
According to the experts, "inclusive excellence" provides
the key to unlock the barriers to diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity" is about numbers increasing percentages whereas
"inclusion" is about changing cultures in legal offices and thereby
improving morale, productivity, and retention. Colorado Campaign for
Inclusive Excellence will provide the tools for achieving inclusion. This new
nonprofit will take diversity efforts of the Colorado legal community to the
next level by providing needed resources, including this e-newsletter; a
website www.colegaldiversity.org
(under construction); an educational program, including the 2008 Rocky
Mountain Diversity Conference and adaptation of the Denver Foundation's
Inclusiveness Workbook for use by the legal community; coordination of
diversity efforts in the legal community; and more.
Kathleen Nalty Named Executive Director and Patty Powell Named
Director of Community Outreach for the Non-Profit
Both Kathleen and Patty have been active in diversity issues in the
Rich Baer, General Counsel at Qwest, Joins CCIE Board of Directors
Qwest General Counsel Rich Baer is the latest leader in the legal
community to join the CCIE Board of Directors. The Board includes the DU and
CU law deans, several law firm managing partners, representatives from legal
nonprofits and government, as well as corporate legal counsel. For a complete
list of board members, click
here.
2008 Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit
The 2008 Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008
from 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Founded by Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence and Patton Boggs LLP, the conference will
focus on the concept of inclusiveness in the legal profession. Participants
will gain an understanding of how to create an inclusive legal organization. Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, Holland & Hart LLP, and
Arnold & Porter are also top sponsors of this event. For more
information on sponsorship opportunities, please click here.
Diversity
Survey Report Available
A comprehensive report of the 2007 Legal Diversity Survey of Denver
area attorneys is available online here.
Legal Diversity in the News
Diversity efforts at largest
In Students' Eyes, Look-Alike
Lawyers Don't Make the Grade Article reported on efforts by grassroots law
student group at Stanford to create "diversity report cards" and to
rank law firms by number of diverse attorneys. Law students are discouraged
from accepting offers from low-ranking firms and one white male student reportedly
declined an offer from a firm with an "F" ranking. The rankings are
reported at www.betterlegalprofession.org.
The New York Times article by Adam Liptak October 29, 2007.
Why are Minority Female Associates
Leaving Law Firms? Article reports results from recent study
indicating that minority female law firm associates have the highest
attrition rates and less than a third plan to stay at their firm for five
years. Minority female associates also report less satisfaction and more
obstacles at large firms than their peers, including men of color. http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1194343441401&rss=newswire
Law.com article by D.M. Osborne November 7, 2007.