1L Diversity Reception August 30

CCIE's Pipeline Working Group is sponsoring a reception for incoming first year law students from DU & CU on Monday, August 30 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Reilly Pozner LLP. CCIE Dream Team members are encouraged to attend to meet the new students. Please RSVP by August 25 to Meranda Vieyra-Blass.  

Upcoming Specialty Bar Dinners

CCIE Executive Director Kathleen Nalty Will Be Honored at CWBA Foundation Dinner

Pipeline Programs

Foster Diversity by Mentoring Law Students

A recent article in the Legal Intelligencer urges lawyers to become mentors to incoming law students of color to help ease their transition. Most of these students are the first in their families to attend law school and have not had exposure to this unique educational system. Mentors help demystify the process, encourage good study and time-management skills, and help alleviate early anxiety. Read the full article.

Black Lawyers Critical to Pipeline

A recent article in DiversityInc about African Americans in the legal profession revealed the need for Black mentors and role models for African American students. Pipeline efforts such as mentoring encourage students of color to consider the law as a profession. Read full article.

To Remain Competitive Businesses Must Value Difference

In a recent article in DiversityInc, Donald Fan, senior director in the Office of Diversity at Walmart, concludes that businesses will succeed when they embrace and empower different groups. ". . . [W]e should purposefully put ourselves in some uncomfortable situations to learn to navigate through difference and reap its full value," he writes. Read full article.

Men Seek Work-Life Balance

According to The New Dad: Exploring Fatherhood Within A Career Context, a recent study by Boston College, men are seeking balance between their roles as breadwinner and parent, often reducing their career expectations and ability to work long hours. This study encourages employers to examine their work-life policies to make sure they are gender neutral, and, more importantly, their organizational cultures, which frequently presume men do not seek balanced work hours. Read The New Dad study.

Survey Reveals Large Pay Gap for Women Law Partners

According to the New Millennium, Same Glass Ceiling? The Impact of Law Firm Compensation Systems on Women, women law firm partners earn 22 percent less than male partners. Although some suggest women lawyers are paid less due to a stronger focus on family, survey responses from nearly 700 partners point to the denial of origination credit and exclusion from compensation committees as more significant reasons for the pay gap. Read the ABA Journal article and the full survey, which contains recommendations for best practices.

Help Support High School Students in Pre-Law Program

Three Hispanic high school students have been accepted to attend the Providence Foundation of Law & Leadership at DU law school. The program teaches students life skills, including critical thinking and analysis, persuasion, professional writing, leadership, and community involvement using a mock trial format. To support the students' participation in this program, make a tax-deductible donation.