Jackson Walker Sponsors Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program (TMCP)
Austin partner, Chris Mugica served on the Steering Committee for this year’s main event which was held September 7-9, 2011, in Austin. Jackson Walker attorneys participated in a variety of networking opportunities associated with TMCP events. Austin partner Larry Waks and Dallas partner Tracey Wallace were speakers at the event. Also attending the event were Managing Partner Wade Cooper, Diversity Committee Chair Bruce Ruzinsky, and Austin partner Raman Dewan.
In addition to Jackson Walker's sponsorship of the TMCP's annual conference, the firm sponsored two “Save the Date” Cocktail and Networking Receptions. The Austin reception was held on July 14, 2011, at the Long Center for Performing Arts. Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson of the Texas Supreme Court was the guest speaker. Invited guests also included all members of the judiciary. Another reception in Dallas was held on June 28th at PepsiCo/Frito Lay Headquarters. (see June newsletter). Both receptions helped to promote the annual TMCP conference.
The mission of the TMCP is to increase opportunities for minority and women attorneys who provide legal services to corporate and government clients, and to expose those organizations to the legal talent found in the minority and women communities. To learn more about the TMCP, click here CLICK HERE.
JW Supports Houston Urban Debate League- Summer Camp
Jackson Walker continued its support of HUDL this year. JW’s contribution helped with summer camp expenses which gave many students their first introduction to a college campus. The summer camp was held at the University of Houston and kicked off HUDL’s debate season. Students spent 45-50 hours per week on debate at camp, with a teacher-student ratio of 7:1. The summer camps and other HUDL programs help feed the pipeline to college, the business community and the legal profession. For more information on the Houston Urban Debate League, please go to the following link:
www.houstonurbandebate.org.
The Firm’s Diversity Committee meets every quarter. Additionally, the Diversity Committee has six subcommittees that work on a variety of tasks. These teams spend many hours on the firm’s efforts.
In both 2010 and 2011, 60 percent of the firm’s new partners were women and since 2008, almost 50 percent of the firm’s newly elected partners have been women and members of ethnic minorities.
As a result of the firm's efforts, Jackson Walker tied for 2nd place among Texas law firms for diversity statistics as ranked by the recent publication entitled “Building a Better Legal Profession's Guide to Law Firms: The Law Student's Guide to Finding the Perfect Law Firm Job.” The publication is making the rounds among law students.
Also, the summer associates this year were 35 percent minorities.
JW Will Soon Offer New Benefits to LGBT Employees
Earlier this year, the Diversity Committee urged firm management to consider offering domestic partnership benefits. Management has decided to offer domestic partner benefits. Details regarding the domestic partnership benefits are being finalized and will be announced in November, when the firm begins insurance plan enrollment for 2012.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
Every year, more than one billion Muslims around the world observe the month of Ramadan.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food and drink for the entire month from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar and this year it began at sundown on July 31st.
Many religions encourage some kind of fasting for religious purposes. For instance, Catholics give up meat for Lent and Jews fast during the holiday of Yom Kippur. For Muslims, fasting is a very important component of Islam. The benefits of fasting for Ramadan are numerous. The most important, though, is the idea that through the self-control of fasting one can pay special attention to his or her spiritual nature.
Ramadan is an important time for Muslims, not simply because it helps develop a closer relationship with God, but also because Ramadan is a time to think about those who are less fortunate. Another goal of fasting for Ramadan is to experience hunger in sympathy for those without food. It is a way that many Muslims learn thankfulness and appreciation for what they have.
It is a common practice for Muslims to break their fast at sunset with water and dates (iftar). Since Ramadan emphasizes community and since everyone eats dinner at the same time, Muslims often invite one another to share in the Ramadan evening meal.
“Eid” or “Eid ul-Fitr” marks the end of Ramadan and is the biggest holiday of the Muslim calendar. Throughout this three day festival, food is donated to the poor and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.
Rosh Hashanah begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh lunar month in the Jewish calendar. Tishrei is believed to be the month in which God created the World. This year Rosh Hashanah began at sunset on Wednesday, September 28th. It is the start of the Jewish New Year.
Rosh Hashanah is also the beginning of the 10 High Holy days that conclude with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is a time for self examination and a chance to make amends through repentance (teshuvah), prayer (tfiloh), and charity (tzedakah).
Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest days of the year for Jews and the majority of the day is spent in synagogue (temple). The Rosh Hashanah prayer service typically runs from early morning until the afternoon.
An important part of the observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the Shofar. It is made from a ram’s horn and blown somewhat like a trumpet. The sound of the Shofar is a reminder of the importance of introspection during this holiday.
Some Jews practice tashlich (“casting off") during Rosh Hashanah. It is the custom of reciting prayers near flowing water, such as a stream or river, and tossing in small pieces of bread or other food as a symbol of casting sins away.
Traditional foods served on Rosh Hashanah are challah bread, apples, honey and pomegranates. The challah bread is baked round during this time to symbolize the continuity of life. Apples dipped in honey symbolize a wish for a sweet new year. Pomegranates (because of its many seeds) symbolize an abundance of goodness and happiness.
JACKSON WALKER RECEIVES THE LAW FIRM EQUALITY AWARD FROM LAMBDA LEGAL for its continued support of Lambda Legal and workplace equality. Dallas associate Lauren Mutti accepted the award on behalf of Jackson Walker.
JW was also an emerald sponsor of Lambda Legal’s 2nd Annual Landmark Dinner held in Dallas, August 13, 2011.
Dallas Partner Tracey Wallace participated in the fashion show, which was part of the Landmark Dinner festivities. The dinner is Lambda Legal Dallas’ single largest fund-raising event. The event celebrates victories across the country that impacts the lives of LGBT people and those with HIV, while also raising funds that are critical to sustaining and building upon their work. For more information on Lambda Legal visit
www.lambdalegal.org.
Chris Mugica Named Co-Chair of "Do the Write Thing" Texas Challenge Program
Austin partner Chris Mugica was recently named co-chair of Travis County's "Do the Write Thing" Texas Challenge program.
The program is an anti-violence and academic program that gives middle school students the opportunity to think profoundly about the issues surrounding violence and enables them to express themselves through classroom discussion and thought-provoking essay questions. As co-chair for the organization, he will work to increase awareness of the program throughout schools in the area. To learn more about this program, CLICK HERE.
DALLAS ASSOCIATE, SHAKEEB MIR was recently accepted to the 2011-2012 class of the State Bar of Texas' Leadership SBOT Program. This diversity initiative is designed to recruit, train, and retain Texas lawyers for leadership positions in the legal community and the State Bar of Texas. Program participants are selected to reflect the cultural, ethnic, geographic, and practice area diversity of the state. Shakeeb’s participation began September 22, 2011.
CONTINUING TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
JW Attorneys Speak at Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Jackson Walker attorneys Willie Hornberger, Salvador Castañeda, and Carlos Treviño spoke at the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Opportunity Capital seminar on May 12, 2011, in Austin Texas.
The presentation focused on tax, corporate, immigration and other related legal issues. Conference attendees were Mexican entrepreneurs interested in expanding their businesses into Texas. For more information on this seminar, please CLICK HERE.
Dallas Associate speaks at SMU Event
Dallas Associate Shakeeb Mir was an invited speaker at a Southern Methodist University event entitled "Careers come in all shapes and sizes" hosted by the SMU Office of Career Services and the SMU Muslim Law Students Association. Shakeeb spoke about life as an associate at a big law firm and fielded questions on interviewing, summer clerkships, and how to land the job of your dreams.
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
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• Joshua Romero
• Bruce Ruzinsky, Chair
• Joan Sostek
• Robert Soza
• Michelle Steckel
• Marcello Tamez
• April Vasquez
• Soraya Walden
• Jerry Webberman
• Leonard Woods
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About JW Diversity
jw2 - Jackson Walker Women
