[ Event ]
Duane Morris Chief Diversity Officer Nolan Atkinson is Planning Chair for "Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Attorneys"
April 21, 2008 | Webcast
Duane Morris partner and Chief Diversity Officer Nolan N. Atkinson, Jr. is the planning chair for "Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Attorneys," an American Law Institute-American Bar Association webcast to be held on April 21, 2008.
ALI-ABA is pleased to offer a $50 discount off the regular price to Duane Morris clients and friends. To receive the discount, please enter Coupon Code RWNM0950 in the coupon code box on the on-line registration form.
About the Webcast
Diversity has become a valued goal of the legal profession from law schools to law firms. Yet despite virtually unanimous support by corporate law firms for diversity initiatives, diverse associates leave such firms in significantly higher percentages than non-minority lawyers. Why? Do law schools fail to properly prepare diverse attorneys to practice in corporate law firms? Or do other factors, such as a law firm culture better suited to non-minority attorneys, a lack of mentoring or training, or problems with the work assignment process within the firm, hurt the retention of diverse lawyers?
This lively, thought-provoking video webcast focuses on diversity in large corporate law firms, examining the recruitment process for diverse law students and offering specific strategies for the success of diverse associates in corporate law firms today. Led by three panelists with extensive practical experience in diversity issues within law schools and law firms, the program is especially designed for law firm managers, hiring partners and committee members, heads of recruitment, and others who oversee lawyer training and/or diversity. Although the webcast focuses on new lawyers, its discussion pertains to lateral lawyers, as well.
Topics include:
Who Are Today?s Diverse Law Student Graduates?
- Statistical review of diverse law student graduates
- Types of preferences given to diverse students in today's law schools
- Lower-tier law school graduates or students not in the top 10%: What are their chances of working in a corporate law firm?
- Critique of Sander research: A discussion of law school preferences for diverse students and about what happens to these students in corporate law firms
A Practical Look at the Diverse Law Student Seeking a Large Law Firm Job
- A look at the numbers: Current percentages of diverse law students in law schools and what these numbers mean for recruitment
- Diverse law students seeking work at large corporate law firms: Who are they and do they match up with hiring firms' expectations?
- Strengths, weaknesses, and unconscious bias in the recruitment process
- Improving the odds through early actions
- Law school action programs: Strategies that work
- Understanding and meeting expectations on both sides: Improving the chances for success
- Law firm culture and assimilation v. need to respect racial and ethnic identity
- Mentoring and training: If partners lack time to train, what should the firm do?
- Managing the assignment process
- Educating the diverse associate about firm clients
- The importance of frequent, factual evaluations
- Discussing marketing with diverse attorneys
- Communicate, communicate, communicate
This interactive program gives you the opportunity to submit your questions in advance and/or during the program for discussion by the faculty.
For more information or to register online, please visit the ALI-ABA website.