The firm's diversity efforts are overseen by a firmwide Diversity Committee consisting of partners, associates and administrative staff; men and women; racially diverse attorneys; and part-time attorneys. The Chair and Managing Partner serve on the Committee. The Committee also includes the leaders of the following affinity groups:  Minorities at Arnold & Porter (MAP), Women Lawyers of Arnold & Porter (WLAP), and LGBT Lawyers at Arnold & Porter.

The Diversity Committee assists in developing and implementing policies and initiatives that are intended to promote a diverse workforce at all levels of the firm. The Diversity Committee is chaired by William Cook, a partner in our Washington, DC office. If you have any questions about the activities of the Diversity Committee, please feel free to contact Mr. Cook. The following are some of the things we do to promote diversity in our organization:

• Within one year of joining Arnold & Porter LLP, all of our new colleagues attend a mandatory diversity training program. The training program has increased sensitivity to and awareness of diversity issues at all levels of the firm, is an important part of the culture of our firm, and fosters a work environment that is hospitable to everyone, from all backgrounds.
  
  
• In 2007, the Diversity Committee instituted a diversity awareness and educational initiative. The firm developed a Diversity Calendar for all of our offices, and, as part of this program, the firm hosts diversity activities, posts educational displays, and provides information for local events and activities that are taking place. Through this program, we have celebrated Black History Month, National Women's History Month, Asia Pacific Heritage Month, Gay Pride Month, Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, and Native American Month.
  
  
• Arnold & Porter was one of two founding firms to launch the DC Minority Attorney Networking Series. Thirty-seven firms are now participating city-wide. The series has attracted minority attorneys from private, corporate, and government practice. The series provides a practical and productive way to enhance the careers and business development prospects of minority lawyers in our community. In the spring of 2007, Arnold & Porter took the lead in rolling out the Minority Attorney Networking Series to New York City.
  
  
• Each year, “Minorities at Arnold and Porter” (“MAP”), the affinity group for minority attorneys, holds a Minority Attorney Summit.  The goal of the Summit is to discuss ways in which law firms and corporations can work together to promote diversity and the success of attorneys of color in the profession. The Summit is attended by attorneys of color from Arnold & Porter, clients of Arnold & Porter who are attorneys of color or are attorneys who serve on a corporate law department’s diversity committee, and attorneys of color who are alumni of Arnold & Porter.  In addition, Firm management and select partners in the Firm attend the Summit.  In addition to the programming focused on advancing minorities in the legal profession to which in-house counsel and alumni are invited, we have a half-day program reserved solely for our minority attorneys to discuss and offer feedback on the Firm’s diversity efforts.  During this time, we discuss ideas to better improve the opportunities at the Firm for diverse attorneys.  We also host a Q & A session with the chair of the Firm and the Managing Partner on issues important to our minority attorneys. If you would like additional information regarding Arnold & Porter’s Minority Attorney Summit, please contact William Cook, Chair of the Diversity Committee and Partner in our Washington, DC office. 
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• WomenConnect is a business development effort in our New York and D.C. offices.  In an informal setting, we bring together women attorneys and women clients for an evening of networking.  The goals of this program are two-fold.  The first goal is to create more personal connections between all women attorneys at the Firm and the second is to introduce our women clients to other women at the Firm.

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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