Racial and Ethnic Diversity
At McDermott Will & Emery we proactively respond to change. As our Firm, the legal profession and society as a whole become more diverse, we have formalized our commitment to the support of racial and ethnic minorities.
The Firm’s Racial & Ethnic Diversity Committee develops and institutes policies and procedures for hiring, retaining and promoting racially and ethnically diverse lawyers. The committee monitors recruiting, retention, promotion and other professional development policies to ensure that diversity is a key component in all major Firm-wide decisions.
The committee collaborates with the Firm’s recruiting committees across all offices, assisting in law school recruiting efforts and raising the Firm’s profile by hosting on-campus and in-office receptions for racially and ethnically diverse law students. Committee members actively participate in all facets of the law student recruiting process.
The committee developed a scholarship program for minority law students, awarding annual $15,000 scholarships to two second-year minority law students from ABA-accredited law schools who have received and accepted positions in a McDermott Summer Program. We seek applicants who demonstrate leadership, community involvement and a commitment to improving diversity in the legal community.
Our retention and promotion initiatives are focused on providing an atmosphere in which all of our racially and ethnically diverse lawyers have the opportunity to be successful in their careers within the Firm. Indicative of this focus, McDermott is ranked as a leading law firm for minority lawyers in the Minority Law Journal annual diversity scorecard.
McDermott’s commitment to racial and ethnic diversity extends beyond the Firm. We support numerous professional diversity associations and community service organizations that promote diversity. We also assist the communities in which our lawyers and staff live and work by providing these communities with pro bono, financial and other support. Our committee will continue to focus on these activities and similar pipeline initiatives.
