Statement on Diversity
Lewis and Roca's commitment to diversity is longstanding, and demonstrates our recognition of the value diversity brings to our firm and its clients.
In 1971, we became the first mid-sized firm in any of the Rocky Mountain States to have a woman partner -- Mary Schroeder, now Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. We continue our tradition of valuing and supporting diversity through increasing educational opportunities for minority and women law students, maintaining a commitment to hiring diverse lawyers, and supporting all of our lawyers to develop their potential and bring the highest level of service to our clients. To ensure that our commitment to diversity remains strong, we have established a Diversity Committee charged with maintaining the firm's historic commitment to diversity and quality of life for firm lawyers and staff.
We support a variety of efforts that increase the opportunities available to women and minority law students. We support the Minority Legal Writing Programs at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University Colleges of Law. Through those programs we provide semester-long, paid internships at our firm that couple intensive writing training and one-on-one supervision with a broader program of educational and professional development opportunities provided to students placed at firms around the city.
We also support and participate in programs that facilitate the hiring of talented, diverse lawyers. We have been regular participants in the DuPont Legal Minority Job Fair since its inception and have hired attorneys recruited from the fair. We were proud to co-sponsor the first annual IMPACT Career Fair for law students and attorneys with disabilities in 2005.
Our support for the professional development and community service of all of our lawyers also contributes to the diversity of our firm. We encourage our lawyers to take an active role in their community and the bar and we support their efforts to do so. We also provide alternative work schedules for attorneys and staff. Our lawyers are committed to a variety of charitable, pro bono, and community activities and serve on many non-profit, bar association, and minority bar boards and committees.
