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 a $15,000 scholarship to two second-year minority law students from ABA-accredited law schools who receive and accept a position in our 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, in 2007, The Minority Law Journal and The American Lawyer Student Edition's "Diversity Scorecard" ranked McDermott among the five firms with the highest number of minority partners.  California Lawyer magazine recognized McDermott among the top three firms with the largest percentage of minority partners in California in both 2006 and 2007.

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.