Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Community
DEI Billable Hour Credit
Affinity Groups
Employee Resource Groups
Policies to Foster Inclusion
To create a truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization, we must be intentional.
Managing Partner Scott MacCormack's Leadership Council for Legal Diversity Pledge
Read the full Pledge
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
When diversity, equity, and inclusion shape our work, our solutions, our culture, and our lives, we do better.
Yusuf Zakir, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are applications due?
- May 10: Applications open
- June 20: Application deadline
- June 24: Decision notices will go out
- July 28-29: Two-day virtual academy
Who is eligible?
Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors at a college or university in Washington state. Open to applicants of color and/or those from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds.
I attend school outside of Seattle, am I still eligible?
Yes, as long as you are a current sophomore, junior, or senior at a college or university in Washington state.
When will I know if I'm accepted?
Decision notices will be sent by June 24, 2022.
When does the program start?
I have other questions, who do I contact?
What documents do I need to apply?
Please provide:
- A resume or Word document sharing any work, volunteer, club, etc. experience(s)
- Answers to two essay questions (see following question for more information)
- Your current undergraduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
What do I need to do to complete the application?
We will ask you to:
- Fill out the online application form.
- Upload a resume or Word document sharing any work, volunteer, club, etc. experience(s) (either in resume form or in no more than one page).
- Write and upload first essay (Word document) telling us more about yourself by responding to all three of the prompts below (300 words or less):
- Why are you interested in exploring a career in the legal field?
- Describe a challenge you faced, how you navigated it, and what you learned from it.
- Tell us about something you are particularly proud of (an achievement, situation you navigated, demonstrated leadership, etc.).
- Write and upload second essay (Word document) telling us what you hope to gain from participating in the Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship Program? (100 words or less)
- Upload your current undergraduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable).
The information you disclose will be reviewed by the faculty and selection committee only, it will be kept in confidence, and will not be disclosed to other program participants.
What is the difference between the fellowship and the virtual academy?
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*We acknowledge that systemic racism, prejudice, and bigotry have long impacted Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ individuals, and other traditionally underrepresented populations. We are antiracist. We believe Black Lives Matter. We actively support and fight for LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality.
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.
2022 Annual Report
Highlighting some of our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts over the last year. We are proud of our efforts, but recognize that we have work to do. We are committed to move this work forward, expeditiously, and intentionally.
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
Contact Us
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