Note to Editors: Media are invited to a reception at the Denver law offices of Hogan & Hartson, located at 1200 17th St., Suite 1500, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 25. Representatives from each of the 16 firms and CU and DU law schools will be in attendance.
The Colorado Pledge to Racial and Ethnic Diversity, in conjunction with the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law and the University of Denver School of Law, announced today the creation of an ambitious minority summer clerkship program.
Called the Colorado Pledge to Diversity Summer Clerkship Program, the effort is only the second of its kind in the country. It was patterned after a similar program in the San Francisco Bay area.
"The enthusiastic response to this program from both students and law firms confirms our belief this program will have great value and will help us achieve our goal of diversifying Colorado law firms," said Chairperson Diane B. Davies of the Colorado Pledge to Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
The Colorado Pledge to Diversity Law Firm Group consists of Denver law firms that have signed a pledge to increase racial and ethnic diversity in Colorado law firms. The implementation of the summer clerkship program is one of the most significant actions undertaken by the group since it renewed the pledge last year.
Sixteen prestigious Denver metropolitan area law firms have agreed to participate in the program.
CU Law School Dean Hal Bruff and DU Law School Dean Mary Ricketson strongly support the program.
"This will give participating law students of color the opportunity to compete for summer associate positions while providing a built-in recruiting tool for top minority students nationwide for both universities," said Dean Bruff.
"It also will provide law firms with a competitive advantage with minority-owned businesses in Colorado and the nation," said Dean Ricketson. "A law firm聮s participation underscores not only a pledge to diversity, but an action to diversity."
Hailed as a model program, San Francisco聮s diversity pledge program was founded in 1993 by California Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame attorney James J. Brosnahan. "The Bay area minority summer clerkship program has provided a multitude of Bay Area minority students a tremendous educational opportunity and in many instances has assisted participating law firms in recruiting minority associate attorneys," said Brosnahan.
The initial goal is to increase the number of minorities taking part in large law firm clerkship programs with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of minority getting hired to work with large firms.
The innovative program is targeting several specific areas.
* Expose minority students to the work, requirements and culture of majority law firms.
* Help minority law students develop skills, confidence, resume credentials and to make professional contacts for the future.
* Encourage minority law students to consider majority law firms in their career planning.
* Introduce law firms to talented students and to demonstrate that these students, as well as other students with similar qualifications, can successfully meet the demands of law practice.
The program is competitive. Sixteen paid positions will be offered and approximately 60 law students are eligible to apply. Only students who have completed the equivalent of the first year of full-time law study are eligible.
A law firm committee will select the students based on effective verbal and written communication skills, leadership, integrity, resourcefulness, academics and other characteristics that indicate potential for success in the legal community.
The clerkships will began the end of May or early June.
Participating Law Firms
1. Brownstein Hyatt & Farber
2. Davis Graham & Stubbs
3. Faegre & Benson
4. Hall & Evans
5. Hogan & Hartson
6. Holland & Hart
7. Holme Roberts & Owen
8. Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe
9. Isaacson Rosenbaum Woods & Levy
10. Kutak Rock
11. Morrison & Foerster
12. Otten Johnson Robinson Neff & Ragonetti
13. Perkins Coie
14. Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons
15. Sheridan Ross
16. Sherman & Howard