Voluntarily formed attorney affinity groups at Arnold & Porter LLP serve as support networks for minorities, women, and lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT). These groups meet throughout the year and help the firm identify ways to enhance their professional experience. The firm supports their efforts through periodic lunches, social events, and professional development initiatives.

• Minorities at Arnold & Porter (MAP) gathers periodically to discuss issues of common concern.  In 2006, MAP created a formal mentor program where  minority associates are paired with MAP partners, usually with the MAP partner requested by the associate.  Minority partners commit to having group lunches with their mentees and to meet with mentees individually.  MAP also hosts a reception each year at the home of one of our minority partners for our minority attorneys and summer associates.  During the summer, MAP members serve as informal mentors to minority summer associates.  In 2005, MAP organized the first ever retreat for the firm’s minority lawyers. The retreat was well-received, and the firm now hosts the retreat annually and has expanded the retreat to include minority alumni, minority in-house counsel, and corporate clients who serve on their law departments’ diversity committees.  We reserve a half-day program just for our minority attorneys to discuss the firm’s diversity efforts and ways to improve them. The Firm also holds annually a MAP Jr. Associate Forum.  This half-day forum provides candid information by minority senior associates and partners on many topics, including work assignments, partner/counsel relations, and work-life balance.
• "Women Lawyers at Arnold & Porter" (WLAP) is the Firm’s affinity group for women attorneys.  WLAP assists Firm management in the development of initiatives that focus on recruiting, developing, advancing and retaining women.  The group is led by a steering committee of women partners and associates.  An agenda is set with monthly programs focusing on leadership training, business development, work-life issues and community building.  WLAP also hosts a gathering during the summer for women attorneys and summer associates, and several small group gatherings of partners and associates to foster connections and communications.  Recently, WLAP launched a Leadership Training Series for women lawyers in the Firm.  This past fall, they held a seminar titled Finding & Developing the Right Leadership Style for You and hosted a presentation by Brooksley Born, a retired partner and a 2009 recipient of the Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Foundation.  In 2010, WLAP launched the Women Attorney Lunch Program.  Through this program, we encourage women associates to lunch with women partners and counsel to encourage mentoring and community building.  This program has been very successful and is available to all women attorneys in all offices.
• LGBT Lawyers was founded a decade ago at Arnold & Porter to focus on issues of interest to partners, counsel, and associates who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, questioning, or intersexed. Among other things, the group has been instrumental in developing the firm's pro bono practice with organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, and other organizations focused on combating discrimination in the LGBT community. In addition, LGBT Lawyers provides mentoring opportunities and sponsors social events, including an event for our Summer Associates, and provides a forum for discussion of LGBT issues in the workplace and in the law. More information is available for those who are considering working at Arnold & Porter. Testimony before the American Bar Association, along with documentation of the firm's commitment to a welcoming environment for LGBT lawyers, is also available for download.
• A group of parents meets from time to time to share ideas, discuss the dual parent/professional role and to provide support and advice to one another. 

Arnold & Porter LLP is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, veteran’s status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Our firm's policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. To achieve our goal of equal opportunity, Arnold & Porter maintains an affirmative action plan through which it makes good-faith efforts to recruit, hire, and advance in employment qualified minorities, females, disabled individuals, and covered veterans.  EOE M/F/V/D.

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