Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Growth
Mansfield Certified Plus
The Mansfield Rule measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, attorneys of color, LGBTQ+, and lawyers with disabilities in various categories. The Plus designation indicates that in addition to meeting or exceeding the baseline requirements, we have successfully reached at least 30 percent diverse lawyer representation in a notable number of our current leadership roles.
Pipeline and Recruiting
Mentorship and Sponsorship
Education
Engagement
Client Collaboration
Supplier Diversity
Project W
Fellowship Overview
As DWT is committed to continually working to ensure our firm and our industry reflect our communities, we are proud to offer a one-year fellowship—co-sponsored by Amazon, Expedia, and Microsoft—for students of color and/or those from diverse or underrepresented communities interested in a legal career.
Fellowship includes:
- Virtual Academy - two full-day legal immersion "virtual" seminars provided by Davis Wright Tremaine
- Assignment of an attorney mentor
- Quarterly virtual cohort meetings
- Upon completion of the fellowship as outlined above; fellows will receive a fully funded LSAT preparatory course
Program Eligibility:
- Must be a current sophomore, junior, or senior at a college or university in Washington state
- Open to applicants of color and/or those from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds
Virtual Academy
In addition to our fellowship, we invite any program-eligible students to join us for the two half days of our virtual academy alongside the accepted fellows. Several panel discussions will be featured, focusing on topics such as: preparing for, applying for, and attending law school; career pathways for young associates; and more.
About DWT, Our Fellowship, and Co-Sponsors
Davis Wright Tremaine is a national law firm with more than 570 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. DWT's Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship was created by a team of DWT associates and staff who are intentionally dedicated to seeing the firm's diversity, inclusion, and equity values put into practical action. Please email us if you have any questions.
Program Co-Sponsors
As DWT is committed to continually working to ensure our firm and our industry reflect our communities, we are proud to offer a one-year fellowship co-sponsored by Amazon, Expedia, Microsoft, and T-Mobile for students of color and/or those from diverse or underrepresented communities interested in a legal career.
Apply
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are part of the fabric of Davis Wright Tremaine—central to who we are and what we do.
Fundamental to our success
Our vision is to foster a culture where all talented individuals—including those who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession—can have, and can see, a path to success.
Leadership Commitment
67%
of the executive committee is diverse*
*Diverse includes women, minorities, and LGBTQ (data from 01.01.23)
58%
of practice group chairs are diverse*40%
of partners-in-charge are diverse*73%
of the Attorney Evaluation Committee is diverse*Our Framework
Community
Fostering a culture that generates a sense of belonging, supports authenticity and intersectionality, and values our differences.
We consistently strive to foster a culture of inclusion. Our firmwide affinity groups and employee resource groups provide a platform to support and connect with one another. Our policies and practices—including policies around gender transition, pronouns, and name pronunciation—support authenticity. And, we reward efforts to foster DEI with billable hour credit.
Growth
Building a diverse pipeline of talent and ensuring our professionals have equitable access to opportunities, information, leadership, and success.
We are committed to developing and advancing women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented populations. Beginning with Mansfield Certification Plus designation to meaningful diversity pipeline recruiting initiatives to mentorship and sponsorship, we seek to train, develop, and promote our talent.
Education
Generating opportunities to elevate our individual and collective consciousness.
Whether we are training to acknowledge and mitigate unconscious bias, understanding and practicing anti-racism, engaging in book clubs and other internal discussions, or welcoming speakers on key issues, we are always learning. To be truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive, we must understand, accept, learn—and grow.
Engagement
Collaborating with external stakeholders—including our clients—to further our shared values.
We must work as a collective. By collaborating with clients around our commitment to DEI, supporting women entrepreneurs and professionals through Project W, expanding our supplier diversity efforts, and supporting and sponsoring affinity bar organizations and other diversity organizations, we are committed to doing this work—together.
Recognitions
Mansfield 5.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2022
Mansfield 4.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2021
Mansfield 3.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2020
Compass Award, 2021-2022
Tipping the Scale Award, 2019-2022
Gold Standard Certification, 2014-2022