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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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We embed DEI throughout our law firm. Here are some examples of how we do it.

Community

DEI Billable Hour Credit

Fostering DEI at our law firm is everyone's business. With DEI billable hour credit, we recognize that—and reward it. We count up to 50 hours of eligible DEI activities annually towards the billable hour requirement.

Affinity Groups

Our six firmwide affinity groups—attorneys of color, flexible hours, LGBTQ+, senior attorneys, veterans, and women—promote our community and provide a platform to connect with one another.

Employee Resource Groups

Our five staff Employee Resource Groups—people of color, LGBTQ+, parents, individuals with disabilities, and women—provide professional development opportunities, advice in recruiting and retention efforts, and feedback to firm leadership.

Policies to Foster Inclusion

Inclusion is intentional and our policies reflect that. For example, our gender inclusivity policies include guidance on gender transition; we encourage the use of gender pronouns; we offer the option to include name pronunciations in emails; we participate in the Disability Equality Index Survey; we offer a one-year program matching associates preparing for parental leave with a transition partner for support; and much more.
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

Mansfield Rule logo
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

We have several programs to develop the pipeline of diverse talent, including our Pre-Law Diversity Fellowship, 1L Diversity Scholarship Program, Gregoire Fellows Program, and many more. We also recruit from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), directly connect with diverse law student organizations, and participate in diverse career fairs for law students and lawyers.

Mentorship and Sponsorship

Our Partner Mentor Program pairs each associate with a more experienced attorney; our client cross-mentoring program matches diverse associates with in-house counsel mentors; and our peer liaison program matches lateral associates with peers to help with integration.
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

Training and Development
Our comprehensive training program focuses on areas critical to a successful lawyer's practice. This includes substantive legal skills, working effectively with clients and colleagues, and business development support.
Respectful Workplace Training
We regularly hold Respectful Workplace Trainings that are mandatory for all employees and include discussions on diversity, gender inclusivity, harassment, and unconscious bias.
Firmwide Education Series
We regularly host speakers and discussions for the entire firm to introduce new concepts, ideas, and perspectives. We also provide workshops and presentations specifically around empowering underrepresented populations; training for key stakeholders and decision makers around key pivot points in progression; and internal discussions and book clubs to elevate our understanding.

Engagement

Client Collaboration

Our efforts to deepen our relationship with clients around our shares values including through partnering on pipeline initiatives and mentoring opportunities, secondments, and empowering attorneys from underrepresented groups to co-manage client relationships.

Supplier Diversity

We maintain a supplier diversity program to substantially increase our business with minority-owned and women-owned businesses and to secure a commitment to DEI objectives from existing and prospective suppliers.

Project W

Project W's mission is to provide women entrepreneurs and professionals across multiple industries – with a particular focus on financial services and technology – the tools, connections, and expertise necessary to build successful businesses. Project W has grown into a multifaceted initiative, comprising networking events, boot camps, pitch sessions, forums, and other platforms to help unlock women's potential to excel.
Learn More About Project W
Link to /about/project-w
Interested in law school or a career in the law? Don’t know where to start?

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.

Amazon
Gold Sponsor
Microsoft
Gold Sponsor
Expedia Group
Silver Sponsor
T-Mobile logo
Silver Sponsor

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?

July 28, 2022

I have other questions, who do I contact?

Email us here.

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?

Any program-eligible student is invited to attend the virtual academy (two half days), which requires no application, only registration for the event. A registration link will be provided on this site this summer.

Apply

The application process is now closed.

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.

Read the Report Link to https://issuu.com/dwtlaw/docs/2022_dwt_dei_report_f7f2bac1cf6ea6

Recognitions

While we have much work to do, we are proud of the recognition we have received for our DEI efforts:
Mansfield Rule Certified Plus 2022
Diversity Lab

Mansfield 5.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2022
Mansfield 4.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2021
Mansfield 3.0 Certification Plus Designation, 2020

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity - Compass Award 2022
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

Compass Award, 2021-2022

Citi
Citibank
Law Firm Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award, 2022
Los Angeles Business Journal
DE&I Company of the Year, 2022
Disability: In
Disability:IN
Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion, 2022
Law360
Law360
Glass Ceiling Report (#5) 2022
Law360
Law360
Diversity Snapshot (#30), 2022
blank placeholder image
The American Lawyer Magazine
Diversity Scorecard (#33), 2022
Law360
Law360
Social Impact Leaders (#9), 2022
U.S. Bank logo
U.S. Bank
"Invested in Diversity" Award, 2021
Microsoft
Microsoft
Law Firm Diversity Program Award, 2021
Discover
Discover Financial Services
Legal Organization's Excellence in Diversity Award, 2020
Seramount Best Law Firms for Women
Seramount Survey
Best Law Firms for Women and Diversity, 2013-2022
Human Rights Campaign Foundation 2022 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality 100% Corporate Equality Index
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Perfect Score, Corporate Equality Index, 2013-2022
DFA 2022 Recipient, Tipping the Scales
Diversity & Flexibility Alliance

Tipping the Scale Award, 2019-2022

WILEF US Ten Year Certified, 2011-20 - Women in Law Empowerment Forum - Empowering Women to the Highest Levels
Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF)

Gold Standard Certification, 2014-2022

Contact us

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Diversity & Inclusion: Contact Us

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