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Across the Firm

Diversity
  • In 2013, we were named to the Honor Roll of Legal Organizations Welcoming Women Professionals by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession. The Honor Roll recognizes law firms that provide innovative solutions designed to support women in their professional development and advancement, such as flexible work schedules, back-up child care, and networking events.

  • From 2009 to 2012, we improved our AmLaw Diversity Score, which measures the number of diverse attorneys at the 250 biggest law firms, by more than 10 percent.

  • In 2012, we ranked among the Top 10 (No. 7) law firms with the highest percentage of women equity partners, in The National Law Journal's "Women in the Equity Partnership" survey. This result is based on data collected as a part of the 2012 National Law Journal 250/Am Law 200 survey.

  • A survey by The American Lawyer ranks Ballard Spahr second in the nation for its percentage of women equity partners among single-tier firms in the Am Law 200 list.

  • In March 2012, Firm Chair Mark S. Stewart was named to Profiles in Diversity Journal's "CEO Leadership in Action" list.

  • From 2011 through 2013, we earned Gold Standard Certification from the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for our success in providing professional opportunities and leadership roles for women attorneys.

  • We exceed the National Association of Law Placement (NALP) average for similarly sized firms for percentage of female partners, female associates, and minority partners.

  • We are a 10-time recipient of DuPont's Meeting the Challenge Award, which recognizes, among other achievements, our diversity efforts.

  • We made MultiCultural Law magazine's lists of Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity and Top 100 Law Firms for Women for seven years running.

  • One of our partners was recognized as a "Diverse Attorney of the Year" by The Legal Intelligencer.

  • Several of our partners have been awarded the Philadelphia Business Journal's "Women of Distinction" Award.

  • Our pipeline project with Constitution High School—a magnet school with a largely minority student body—won an award from the School District of Philadelphia for best practices in community partnerships.

  • Two of our 13 offices are managed by female partners. Seventeen of our practices are led by women, and eight of our 11 administrative directors are women as well as eight of our 13 office administrators.

  • Our Minority Associates Affinity Group in our Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, and Atlanta offices offers diverse first-year law students hands-on help with writing resumes and preparing for interviews.

  • Our Phoenix office is a signatory to the State Bar of Arizona Commitment to Inclusion Goals program. The program's goals are to provide for full participation of all groups of people in the legal profession and to increase the numbers of minority and women lawyers.

  • The Phoenix office also participates in the Diversity Legal Writing Program, which connects second-year minority law students with private law firms to develop writing skills and provide clerking experience.

  • Our Denver office is a member of the Center for Legal Inclusiveness, which brings together law firms and corporate legal departments to increase diversity and inclusiveness in the legal profession. 

  • Our Baltimore office hosts students from the University of Baltimore School of Law's Charles Hamilton Houston Scholars program. This six-week program is designed to educate minority students about the legal profession and encourage them to consider a career in law.

Results & Recognition

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