Our Commitment to Diversity

At Riddell Williams, we acknowledge and respect the differences of each person in our firm, including race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical abilities, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, educational levels, marital status and family circumstance. Through our ongoing commitment to diversity, we foster mutual understanding, support and trust. This includes education, mentoring, training, various community leadership activities and bar activities.

Riddell Williams Updates on Diversity

• Riddell Williams was named one of "50 Best Law Firms for Women." Awarded for its family-friendly policies and business development initiatives designed to retain women lawyers and advance them into the leadership pipeline, Riddell Williams is honored to be among the 50 Best Law Firms for Women, as named by Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers. The Women Attorneys Group at Riddell Williams holds monthly meetings that encourage informal mentoring, and focus on topics ranging from practice development, marketing, and client service to the opportunities and challenges faced by professional women. Members of the group engage in a wide variety of civic, volunteer and pro bono activities. Together, these attorneys support community organizations through hands-on volunteer work, and in-kind and monetary donations.
  
• On October 18, 2012, Riddell Williams celebrated the 23rd Annual Gala of the Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW) and the Asian Bar Association of Washington Student Scholarship Foundation (ABAWSSF). Once again, Keith Seo was the Master of Ceremonies.
• Riddell Williams’ 2013 Diversity Fellowship recipient is Katie Hall. Katie is a 2nd year law student at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Katie is a member of the Case Western Reserve Law Review, and she serves as a Legal Writing Center Tutor and on the Student-Faculty Diversity Committee. She attended the University of Washington for her undergrad, where she served as a mentor for UW’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Mentor Program.
• On April 11, 2012, Riddell Williams co-hosted a 2L Diversity Fellowship Reception at the University of Washington School of Law. Riddell Williams Diversity Committee Chair, Mindy DeYoung, Professional Development Committee member, Dan Gunter, and Recruiting and HR Manager, Rebecca Misich, participated in an informational panel for law student candidates for Diversity Fellowships. UW's Associate Dean, Michelle Gonzalez, moderated the Q&A session for students, which focused on helpful insights about the firms and the opportunities available.
• The Diversity Committee is pleased to welcome as a new member, Bryce Holland. Mr. Holland also serves as the Chair of Business Side and an Executive Committee Member. Also, beginning in April, Mindy DeYoung is the new Diversity Committee Chair.
• 2012 Diversity Fellowship recipient is Lola Zakharova. Lola is a 2nd year law student in Seattle University's evening program. By day, Lola is a Senior Paralegal responsible for managing the international personnel program for a national telecommunications company. Lola received her Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude, in English Language from State University of World Languages in Uzbekistan. She moved to Washington from Uzbekistan in 2006.
• Riddell Williams associate Keith Seo has been highlighted in an article posted in the Northwest Asian Weekly: Legal uncertainty — Are Asian Americans rethinking the law?
• Riddell Williams is a sponsor of the Puget Sound Association of Legal Administration's July 28, 2011 Diversity Session featuring Andrés Tapia. Mr. Tapia is the President of Diversity Best Practices, the preeminent diversity and inclusion think tank and consultancy. Mr. Tapia will speak on the topic of why diversity and inclusion are still such a challenge for law firms. He will explore some of the root causes for why this is the case and elaborate on strategies and programs that can bring about true breakthroughs for firms committed to diversity.
• As part of its continuing commitment to promote diversity in the legal profession, Riddell Williams' Diversity Committee held an interview skills workshop at the University of Washington School of Law on May 5, 2011. Recognizing that interview skills can be learned and refined, ultimately increasing the chance of diverse law students receiving job offers, Riddell Williams attorneys and its Human Resources & Recruiting Coordinator offered practical advice on what legal employers are looking for, how interviews are conducted, how to prepare for an interview, and do's and don'ts during an interview. In follow-up to the workshop, Riddell Williams invited participating students to schedule a mock interview to be held at the firm in preparation for the Northwest Minority Job Fair in August and OCI in the fall.
• Riddell Williams’ 2011 Diversity Fellowship recipient is Michael Kim. Michael is a 2nd year law student at the University of Washington. He is a member of the UW Law Review, President of the UW Minority Law Students Association, and a member of the UW Dean’s Committee on Diversity. Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Spanish from Claremont McKenna College in California. He is also the Guinness World Record Holder for "Longest Distance Traveled by Rail in 24 Hours.”
• Riddell Williams’ 2010 Diversity Fellowship recipient, Josias Flynn, joined the Firm as an associate in 2011. Josias is a 3rd year law student at the University of Washington and is the Vice president of the UW Black Law Students Association. He is externing at the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma for Judge Ronald Leighton. Josias received his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Truman State University in Missouri.
• Riddell Williams hosted "Building a Book of Business” for attorneys of color in collaboration with the King County Bar Association on October 20, 2010.
• In 2010, Riddell Williams promoted three of its women attorneys to principal. Congratulations to Wendy Lyon, Courtney Seim and Sky Sherwood.
• Riddell Williams associate Mindy DeYoung serves on the board of the Korean American Bar Association.
• Riddell Williams associate Keith Seo has been elected to the board of the Korean American Bar Association.
• Riddell Williams associate Keith Seo has been appointed to the WSBA Committee for Diversity.
• After nearly two years of work on a challenging pro bono case with VAIJ (Volunteer for Immigrant Justice), one of our Associates received a letter from the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) granting her client permanent residence in the United States.
• In 2009, an Associate received a KCBA Pro-Bono award for legal services provided for the homeless.

Diversity Committee

While diversity has been a cornerstone of the firm’s values for many years, we formalized a diversity program in the 1990’s. The goal of our Diversity Committee is to examine diversity issues and develop improved ways to attract and retain a diverse workforce. The committee includes principals and associates, and reports regularly to the firm’s executive committee and principals.

Diversity Fellowship

Riddell Williams sponsors an annual diversity fellowship that provides a second-year law student with a position in our summer associate program and monetary support for school in the following year. We are proud that our 2009 and 2010 recipients have joined the firm as associates.

The deadline for the 2013 Diversity Fellowship has passed. The deadline to apply for Summer 2014 will be in September 2013.

Northwest Minority Job Fair

Our firm's participation in this successful job fair has enabled us to interview minority candidates from around the United States.

Mentoring and Training

Riddell Williams has a strong, formal mentoring program, which matches appropriate mentors to all associates to help them achieve their professional development goals. In addition, the firm regularly conducts training programs on a wide variety of issues.

As part of its continuing commitment to promote diversity in the legal profession, Riddell Williams' Diversity Committee held an interview skills workshop at the University of Washington School of Law on May 5, 2011. Recognizing that interview skills can be learned and refined, ultimately increasing the chance of diverse law students receiving job offers, Riddell Williams attorneys and its Human Resources & Recruiting Coordinator offered practical advice on what legal employers are looking for, how interviews are conducted, how to prepare for an interview, and do's and don'ts during an interview. In follow-up to the workshop, Riddell Williams invited participating students to schedule a mock interview to be held at the firm in preparation for the Northwest Minority Job Fair in August and OCI in the fall.

Women Attorney Group

This group holds monthly meetings that encourage informal mentoring, and focus on topics ranging from practice development, marketing, and client service to the opportunities and challenges faced by professional women. The Women Attorney Group also hosts regular events for clients and friends that enable the women attorneys to enrich existing relationships outside the firm. Members of the group engage in a wide variety of civic, volunteer and pro bono activities. Together, these attorneys support community organizations through hands-on volunteer work, and in-kind and monetary donations.

Benefits

We were one of the first law firms in the Northwest to provide domestic partner benefits, and are pleased that other regional firms have followed our example. Riddell Williams also provides paid parental leave for both male and female associates. Our part-time policy permits attorneys to work a reduced schedule because of child care, family or health concerns, or to pursue civic, artistic, educational, political or other interests.

2012 Recipient: PSALA Achievements in Diversity Award

The Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators (PSALA) honored Riddell Williams as one of two 2012 recipients of the Achievements in Diversity award. Each year the PSALA presents this award to a law firm within the Chapter's membership that has demonstrated exceptional achievements in diversity within the firm.