We believe in developing relationships and investing in people. At Perkins Coie, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive community where opportunities to succeed are available to all.

Our firm culture is built on collaboration and mutual respect. Once an attorney becomes part of our community, we want them to feel welcome and prepared to participate at every level of engagement necessary for success. This is why the firm supports inclusive resource groups for women, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender attorneys, lawyers with disabilities, veterans, parents, caregivers, and lawyers of color (African American/Black, Latinx, Asian American/Pacific Islander and South Asian/Middle Eastern). In order to increase the diversity of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within the firm, these resource groups offer opportunities for fellowship, support and networking. In addition, local office diversity committees offer programs and events that respond to the specific and unique needs of their communities, while the firm as a whole also hosts national programs and retreats aimed at providing all attorneys with the information and tools they need to succeed.

 

Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program

At Perkins Coie, we foster a diverse and inclusive community where opportunities to succeed are available to all. Embracing diversity allows us to draw from different backgrounds and experiences, enabling us to attract the best talent to our ranks, and in turn build strong teams that provide excellent service to our clients. We are committed to creating an environment in which all our people thrive because they feel a sense of belonging.

We are proud to offer our Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program as part of our comprehensive, firmwide commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Fellows are full participants in our summer associate program and must spend the first 10 weeks of their summer(s) with Perkins Coie. In addition to receiving a summer associate salary, Fellows will also receive a $15,000 stipend at the conclusion of their first-year summer. Fellows who return as 2Ls will receive a $15,000 stipend at the conclusion of their second-year summer. Fellows who accept an offer to join Perkins Coie as an associate after graduation will receive a $10,000 stipend in late May of their final year of law school.

Application Process and Criteria

All students who are in good standing in their first year at an ABA-accredited law school are eligible to apply for the Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program. Perkins Coie is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications for the Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship Program from all eligible applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity / gender expression, disability status, or any other identity.

We will begin accepting applications on November 15, 2023.

A complete application must include:

  • Current resume.
  • Cover letter.
  • Undergraduate and law school transcripts (unofficial versions are acceptable).
  • A legal writing sample (10-page maximum).
  • A personal statement (one-page, single-spaced). The personal statement should be a narrative describing your academic, professional, and life experiences and, where relevant, identifying connections between those experiences and the broader goal of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.

We evaluate all applications for the fellowship and consider the following factors:

  • Academic Achievement – A demonstrated record of academic achievement and excellent writing and interpersonal skills, as well as experience that will contribute to a successful career in the legal field.
  • DEI Leadership – Engagement in efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community and/or legal profession, including during college or law school.
  • Resilience – Obstacles or challenges you have encountered and overcome, how you overcame those obstacles, and what you learned from doing so.
  • Perspective – Life experiences that have shaped your perspectives and professional goals.

Recruitment Activities and Programs

Our recruitment efforts include building supportive relationships with organizations, hosting job fairs, and offering programs designed to educate and expose students to the legal profession.

Retention Programs and Activities

Perkins Coie recognizes the importance of retention in advancing diversity and inclusion, and we work diligently to invest in the success of our lawyers across the firm. Our retreats are an important retention tool that provide our attorneys opportunities to strengthen relationships with one another and our clients in a professional development setting.

All Women Lawyers Retreat: The retreat serves as an opportunity for participants to network with other attorneys from all levels, offices and practice groups within the firm, and to share best practices on navigating the law firm culture. The presentations and events offered at this two-day retreat provide the participants with various tools to help advance their career. 

Lawyers of Color/LGBTQ+/Lawyers with Disabilities and Veterans Retreats: These retreats bring together many of the firm's attorneys to discuss, embrace, and celebrate diversity and allyship in an inviting environment. Many of the retreat’s sessions and presentations are open to attorneys of all levels, with tracks specific to the programming that coincides with where the attorney currently is in their career. This distinction allows for time focused on professional and business development skills particular to the career stage of the attorneys. In addition to the networking opportunities provided at different presentations and mixers, attendees also have the opportunity to meet other lawyers in their specific practice groups and create new and build upon existing relationships.

For questions, please contact Diversity&Inclusion@perkinscoie.com.

Our recruitment efforts include building supportive relationships with student organizations, job fairs and programs designed to educate and expose students to the legal profession. We encourage all law students, regardless of whether they plan to apply to Perkins Coie, to speak with us so that we can help them better navigate the process. In these ways, we can extend our insight and experience to students.

Perkins Coie is proud to sponsor and support several associations and career fairs that work to increase the diversity of the legal profession.

  • Bay Area Diversity Career Fair
  • Cook County Bar Association Minority Job Fair
  • Hispanic National Bar Association Convention And Career Fair
  • Impact Career Fair For Law Students And Attorneys With Disabilities
  • Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair
  • Microsoft Women & Minority Law Student IP Summit
  • National Black Law Students Association Annual Convention and Career Fair
  • National Diversity Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair
  • Northwest Minority Job Fair
  • Oregon Minority Job Fair
  • Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program, Inc.
  • San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association Bay Area Job Fair

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