Volume 1 - 2011

Events and Sponsorships

Jackson Walker Joins LCLD – Managing Partner Wade Cooper recently joined the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).

The LCLD is comprised of corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners dedicated to creating a diverse legal profession.

The LCLD was formed in 2009, as a result of the 2008 Call to Action Summit, in Scottsdale, Arizona. This was the first time that such a broad range of leading decision-makers within the legal profession came together on a large scale to discuss diversity.

JW Houston Kicks Off Shadowing Program through joint efforts of the Houston Recruiting and Diversity Committees for five 1L students from Texas Southern University School of Law. The JW Shadow Program commenced on February 2 and continued throughout the months of February and March. Participating attorneys were Chevazz Brown, David Curcio, Paula Denney, Brian Harris, Richard Howell, and Vytas Petrulis. The Shadow Day began with each host attorney giving a brief overview of the work planned and then proceeding with business as usual while the students observed. Students were able to see JW attorneys in action and attend trials, hearings and client conferences.

Austin Partner Chris Mugica Reaches Out to Local Youth
Chris has worked with a local non-profit, Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps, since 1993. In addition to providing a free summer camp and jobs to disadvantaged kids, the program takes a select number of high school and middle school students and tutors/mentors them throughout the year. The staff helps “campers” with school work, runs them through community projects, trains them for summer jobs, and gets them ready for (and into) colleges. The program also provides scholarships.

So, when the Camp had kids interested in practicing law, they asked Chris to let one shadow him for the day. A high school student joined Chris at the office for the day, which included an office tour, a marketing lunch, and a trip to the Courthouse to watch Chris argue a motion. Afterwards, Chris took him around and introduced him to a few of the local judges.

Houston Associates Participate in Sixth Annual National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law School Fair

Abimbola “B” Bukoye was a panelist in an open forum discussion at the Conference and spoke on the topic of preparing for law school and what minority law school applicants can expect in going to law school.

Jamila Patten was a facilitator on the LSAT panel discussion during the Conference. Jamila has assisted with the Conference for the last three years, and she is also on its Advisory Board. CLICK HERE for information about the Conference.

JW Attorneys Attend Diversity and Inclusive Events in Local Cities

Alia Derrick, Suzan Kedron and Lauren Mutti attended the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon hosted by the Dallas Bar Association on January 19 at the Belo Mansion. Former JW partner Leon Carter was honored as the recipient of the MLK Justice Award during the festivities.

Alia Derrick and Tracey Wallace attended the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s (MCCA) Regional Networking Forum in Dallas, held at the Cowboys Stadium on February 16. The MCCA had its signature “Three People Three Perspectives Conversation Series” panel discussion at the event.

Jerry Webberman attended the Anti-Defamation League Jurisprudence Award Luncheon at the Four Seasons in Austin on February 16. The luncheon usually draws the who’s who in the Austin legal community, including the judiciary.

SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING BY AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS – The Firm sponsored five Student Leadership Scholarships through the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA), which held its annual convention in Houston on March 9-13. The scholarships recognized the accomplishments of NBLSA members who have excelled academically while being active in their NBLSA chapters and communities.

CONTINUING TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

JoAnn Dalrymple joined the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Firm plans in the near future to join the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce in Houston and San Antonio.

Tom Adolph, Amanda Shaw and Jamila Patten attend UH BLSA Banquet

Jackson Walker has been a Platinum sponsor of the Annual Scholarship Banquet for a number of years. A lucky invited guest sitting at the table, who happened to be a 1L student, met Tom Adolph and through table conversation was invited to shadow him for a day at the office. The student was thrilled to get her first glimpse of the inside workings of a law firm.

San Antonio Associate Christian Alvarado Helps Organize UT Excellence in Diversity Weekend – Christian Alvarado was named to the Steering Committee for UT Law’s Excellence in Diversity Weekend, which was held on January 14-15, 2011. The event included a panel discussion on “UT Law, the Legal Profession, and People of Color: A Forty Year Perspective.” Dean Larry Sager and State Senator Rodney Ellis hosted the event along with students from the Asian Law Students Association, the Chicano/Hispanic Law Students Association, and the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society. The Firm also supported the event by sponsoring a table. CLICK HERE for additional details.

Preeminence requires diversity. We at Jackson Walker have a responsibility to our community, clients and to each other to foster and promote diversity. The firm is committed to that responsibility and philosophy through awareness, action, and a culture in which all individuals are afforded the opportunity to excel. The Firm is an equal employment opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran’s status, disability or handicap.

For more information: www.jw.com/diversity

Diversity Committee Members:

• Melissa Bates • Ling Chwang • Alicia Duleba • Alesia Foster • Joel Heydenburk • Margaret Hopson • Suzan Kedron • Scott McElhaney • Lauren Mutti • Jorge Padilla • James Prappas

• Joshua Romero • Bruce Ruzinsky, Chair • Joan Sostek • Robert Soza • Michelle Steckel • Marcello Tamez • April Vasquez • Soraya Walden • Jerry Webberman • Leonard Woods

Jackson Walker’s 21-member diversity committee develops, recommends, implements and reports on the firm’s diversity related activities. In addition to serving on the committee at large, each committee member also serves on one or more diversity subcommittees. The committee spends 300+ hours each year furthering the firm’s diversity initiatives.
 

About JW Diversity

jw² - Jackson Walker Women