Davis Miles McGuire Gardner (DMMG) is committed to creating a more diverse, inclusive workforce. We believe our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics are our most valuable asset. We also believe that a workforce representative of society is a more stimulating, dynamic, robust, and effective work environment.
According to a 2019 report released by the National Association for Law Placement, people of color account for only 25% of all attorneys working at the associate level in law firms. African-American associates account for only 4.76% of those associates. Additionally, people of color account for less than 10% of all attorneys working at the partnership level in law firms with African-Americans comprising only 1.97% of those attorneys. Further, while women account for about 47% of all attorneys working as associates in law firms, less than 25% of attorneys at the partnership level are women, and women of color represent less than 8% of attorneys working in law firms. LGBT lawyers are also significantly underrepresented, comprising less than three percent of law firm attorneys nationally.
In response, we are pleased to announce our participation in the Diversity Legal Writing Program. The Diversity Legal Writing Program is a collaborative scholarship program between the Maricopa County Bar Association, the State Bar of Arizona, and Phoenix law firms that provides diverse second-year law students with a 12-week private law firm internship during their spring semesters. The program’s aim is to increase opportunities for diverse applicants to experience the practice of law in a private firm setting, to strengthen legal research and writing skills, to develop relationships with attorneys in the Phoenix legal community, and ideally to improve representation of diverse applicants in mid-to-large law firms.
We are also excited to have three of our talented attorneys, Charles Brown, Dwayne Burns, and Kelsi Lane, spearhead this initiative. Each brings a diverse perspective and skillset, and we believe their energy, enthusiasm, and collaborative efforts will ensure this program is a success, for both the student and DMMG.