University of Colorado, University of Denver Join Law Firms to Create Minority Law Program

Boulder, Colo.
The University of Colorado-Boulder's School of Law and the University of Denver's
College of Law recently joined with Denver area law firms to create a minority summer clerkship program.
Called the "Colorado Pledge to Diversity Summer Clerkship Program," the effort is only the second of its kind in the country. It was patterned after a similar program in the San Francisco Bay area.
"The enthusiastic response to this program from both students and law firms confirms our belief this program will have great value and will help us achieve our goal of diversifying Colorado law firms," says Diane B. Davies, chairwoman of the Colorado Pledge to Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
The Colorado Pledge to Diversity Law Firm Group consists of Denver law firms that have signed a pledge to increase racial and ethnic diversity in Colorado law firms. Sixteen Denver metropolitan area law firms have agreed to participate in the program.
The initial goal is to increase the number of minorities taking part in law firm clerkship programs, while the ultimate goal of increasing the number of minorities getting hired to work with large firms.
The program is targeting several specific areas:
•  Expose minority students to the work, requirements and culture of majority law firms;
•  Help minority law students develop skills, confidence, résumé credentials and to make professional contacts for the future; Encourage minority law students to consider majority law firms in their career planning; and Introduce law firms to talented students and to demonstrate that these students, as well as other students with similar qualifications, can successfully meet the demands of law practice.