DIVERSITY
Arnold & Porter
Top five offices Washington, D.C. Hq | New York | Los Angeles | Denver | London
Total attorneys 662
Major departments/practices Corporate/Finance | Regulatory | Litigation | Intellectual Property
First-year salary $125,000
2001 summer associates 105
2001 fall first-years 105
Who to call Lisa Pavia, Attorney Recruitment Manager, 202-942-5059
Web site Arnoldporter.com
Diversity is a term all law firms toss around in recruiting pitches, but Washington, D.C.’s Arnold & Porter makes good on its word.
The 662-lawyer firm, with major practice areas in corporate law, regulatory law, and litigation, has established itself as one of the most minority-friendly big firms in the country. Since 1995, A&P has increased the number of minority lawyers in its ranks from 19 to 83-a 300 percent jump. Minority attorneys now account for 15 percent of the firm’s total number of lawyers. Of the firm’s 232 partners, 11 are minorities. And of the 105 associates hired in 2001, 22 percent come from diverse backgrounds.
Arnold & Porter has been recognized for its record on diversity by such organizations as the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. And the firm’s associates give A&P high marks on diversity in nationwide firm rankings.
What does A&P do to attract such diverse lawyers? The hiring committee has a minority subcommittee, the firm stays in regular contact with minority-law-student associations, and minority lawyers are key members of the firm’s recruiting team. Every November, A&P hosts a reception for all of the minority law students with offers to join the firm.
To improve retention of minority lawyers, firm managers try to ensure that work assignments and opportunities are equal for all attorneys. They’ve set up an aggressive mentoring program, and they’ve supported an in-house advocacy group called Minorities at Arnold & Porter (MAP).
Perhaps most important, the commitment to diversity comes from the very top. Managing partner Jim Sandman and other firm leaders stress the importance of diversity-and focus on achieving it. That’s essential, says partner and MAP founder William Cook. “It has to be more than just the will of some minority attorneys.”
The firm’s commitment to diversity, says third-year associate Erica Taylor McKinley, an African-American who attended the University of Mississippi law school, “isn’t just lip service. I saw that when I interviewed, and I saw it after I started working here.”
Why diversify in the first place? “A firm that creates an environment that’s hospitable to minority lawyers is a good place to work for everybody,” says Sandman. “Creating that kind of environment says something about the firm’s values-how they regard all of their people.”
Also Consider
Philadelphia’s 271-lawyer Wolf, Block, Schorr And Solis-Cohen (wolfblock.com) is well known as a shop where lawyers of all backgrounds are welcome. The 99-year-old firm’s executive committee counts one woman, one Hispanic, and one African-American among its seven members.
