Diversity Committee
Program Details:
To further the objective of promoting and maintaining diversity within the firm, we have formed a Diversity Committee comprised of partners, associates and administrative staff from throughout the firm. This committee has been instrumental in identifying and implementing important diversity initiatives. The Diversity Committee is also responsible for developing and updating the firm's statement of goals with regard to diversity.
With respect to diversity, Townsend's goals are to:
- Create a working environment where everyone has equal opportunity for achievement and advancement.
- Promote and improve Townsend's leadership position in diversity at all levels by retaining and promoting diverse legal talent.
- Recruit outstanding talent in a manner designed to improve Townsend's diversity.
- Collaborate with existing and potential clients to improve diversity in the legal profession.
- Work diligently with bar associations and other community organizations to foster diversity in the legal profession.
Diversity Scholarship Program
Program Details:
Townsend awards an annual diversity scholarship of $5,000 to a law student who is pursuing a career in patent law. Established in 2005, the goal of the scholarship program is to increase the diversity of the patent bar, and to encourage women and minorities to pursue careers in patent law.
Eligibility Criteria:
Students in good standing at ABA accredited law schools who are women, members of racial minorities or otherwise diverse may apply for a scholarship in the sum of $5,000 for a given academic year. Students may apply for scholarships in successive years. The scholarship funds are awarded to defray education costs such as tuition, law school fees, and books. Financial need is not a consideration.
Factors considered by the Firm in selecting scholarship recipients include the following:
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in life sciences, engineering, or equivalent
- Proof of enrollment in an ABA accredited law school
- Demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in patent law in a city in which Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP has an office
- Superior academic performance
- Work experience related to science, engineering or patent law
- Community service
- Demonstrated leadership ability
- Candidates may not be related to or in a close personal relationship with any Firm employee or partner.
Application Procedure:
Interested students should apply directly to Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP by April 9, 2010. Awards will be made in May 2010. To apply, Townsend must receive all of the following by 5:00 p.m. on April 9, 2010:
- Completed application form
- Current resume
- Certified copies of official transcripts for undergraduate, law school and other graduate-level education (to be sent directly by the schools)
- Applicant statement of no more than two double spaced pages in 12 point type.
- Up to three letters of recommendation (optional)
- Proof of enrollment in good standing at an eligible law school
Interested students should contact Shelley Levine, Director of Attorney Recruitment, Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, Two Embarcadero Center, Eighth Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, email: selevine@townsend.com.
Contact Information:
Interested students should contact Shelley Levine, Director of Attorney Recruitment, Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, Two Embarcadero Center, Eighth Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, email: selevine@townsend.com.
Law School Tuition Assistance Program
Program Details:
Townsend supports its employees who are interested in pursuing legal careers. As part of this effort, the firm administers a tuition assistance program through which paralegals, patent agents and other Townsend employees who attend law school while working for the firm may apply for assistance with law school tuition and books. Although this assistance is not limited to minority and women candidates, we believe that the program will contribute to the ability of such candidates to complete their legal education.
Minority Lawyer Support
Program Details:
Townsend provides sponsorship and financial support to a number of professional groups that further the interests of minority lawyers. These groups include:
- Asian American Bar Association (AABA)
- Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI)
- Asian Law Alliance
- Asian Law Caucus
- Asian Pacific American Law Student Association
- Asian Pacific Bar Association (APBA) of Silicon Valley
- Asian Pacific Islander Association
- BALIF (LGBT bar association)
- Black Law Students Association
- California Minority Counsel Program
- Charles Houston Bar Association
- Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
- Lambda Legal (LGBT advocacy group)
- Minority Bar Coalition
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
- National Center for Lesbian Rights (NLCR)
- National LGBT Bar Association
- Outlet Program of the Peninsula (LGBT teen outreach)
- San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association
- South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
Reduced-time Work Policy
Program Details:
Recognizing that lawyers often may change their commitment to law firm practice for a variety of reasons, we have adopted a reduced-time policy that permits some lawyers to work reduced schedules. As of 2008, a number of lawyers at all levels of the firm - from partners to associates - have opted for a reduced-time policy. Our reduced-time policy has been an important part of our effort to retain lawyers who require some flexibility in their schedules and enhances our ability to maintain long-term relationships with clients by ensuring continuity of staffing and institutional knowledge.
The Townsend Women’s Forum
Program Details:
The Townsend Women's Forum produces highly successful annual events that bring women lawyers together to discuss the challenges faced by women in the law. In addition to the annual events, the Townsend Women's Forum arranges to have guest speakers, workshops and working dinners designed to provide members with opportunities to discuss issues common to women in the legal industry.
Sponsorships and Financial Support
Program Details:
Townsend supports a number of organizations that further diversity in the legal profession. In particular:
- Townsend is a signatory to the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) "No Glass Ceiling Initiative," which sets specific goals for the recruitment and retention of women lawyers and the promotion of women to management and leadership positions in private law firms.
- Townsend is an active participant in the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP), which seeks to promote diversity in private law firms and corporate legal departments