Diversity

At Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell, we value the differences in people and believe that diversity enhances our ability to succeed and to serve our clients well. We welcome inquiries from qualified diverse candidates for both lawyer and staff positions.

As of January 2009, 15% of WTO's partners and 52% of its associates are women. Twelve percent of WTO's partners and 10% of its associates are minorities. While WTO compares favorably to other Denver firms in the percentage of women and minorities among its partners and associates according to the most recent data published by the National Association of Law Placement, we strive for continuous improvement in recruiting and retaining women and minority lawyers.

Since its inception in 1998, WTO has engaged in efforts to promote diversity within the firm through activities such as:

• Targeted and word-of-mouth recruiting;
• Sponsoring financially and with volunteer time the Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence;
• Service on the Board of Directors of the Deans' Diversity Council led by the deans of the universities of Colorado's and Denver's law schools;
• Service on the Deans' Diversity Council's Pipeline Committee;
• Sponsorship of continuing education programs on diversity issues;
• Participation in diversity career fairs;
• Sponsorship of specialty bar associations;
• Support of local law schools and alumni law school associations;
• Financial support for diversity scholarships.

We continue to educate ourselves about the best diversity practices and to undertake new approaches to diversify further.

To retain and to enhance diversity among our lawyers, WTO provides all associates with mentoring, guidance, and on-the-job supervision by experienced partners. In doing so, we take into account the background, experience level, and needs of each associate. We also have a formal professional development program. In addition to actual, hands-on trial work, we offer all attorneys workshops with the firm's senior partners and trial presentation consultants.

We encourage and support our minority and female attorneys' interests in specialty bar associations, programs, and networking.

In addition to our ongoing efforts aimed at increasing and retaining the diversity among our lawyers, WTO is committed to building a pipeline of diverse lawyers nationally.

• In 2004, the firm became a founding sponsor of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's diversity scholarship program. The program annually awards $10,000 scholarships and provides mentors to first-year law students. According to the selection criteria, these scholarships are available to diverse individuals who have overcome obstacles, are outstanding and promising scholars, and may be among the first in their families to graduate from college.
• The WTO Foundation supports with volunteer time and donations nonprofit organizations such as Denver Urban Debate League and Denver Kids, Inc., both of which provide mentoring to underserved youth to encourage them to do well and stay in school.

WTO provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. It is the policy of the firm that all employees shall work in an environment free from all forms of discrimination. The firm does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or veteran status in matters of hiring, promoting, disciplining, and rewarding employees.

For more information, contact Connie Proulx, Director of Marketing, at 303.244.1919 or proulx@wtotrial.com.