Lawyers of Color

WilmerHale has long been a leader in efforts to diversify the legal profession. This leadership has been spearheaded by lawyers such as John Pickering, who played a major role in integrating the Bar in the District of Columbia; John Hamilton, who for years served as chairman of the Boston Lawyers Group; and John Payton, who was lead counsel for the University of Michigan in successfully defending the use of race in undergraduate and law school admissions, and is currently the Director-Counsel and President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Over the years, attorneys of color have served as managing partner and assistant managing partner of the firm, members of our management, executive and hiring committees and practice leaders.

The firm is a corporate member of The Partnership and participates in its Boston Fellows program. The program is designed to retain and mobilize the leadership of professionals of color (in particular, African Americans) who are employed in corporations, law firms, hospitals, academic and other institutions throughout Greater Boston. Fellows are nominated by their employers and upon selection participate in the program’s monthly forums and activities, which acquaint them with the institutions and major sectors of the city and provide an opportunity to meet with Boston’s most influential people of color and key non-minority decision makers. Annually, several associates and partners participate in the Boston Fellows program and the Boston Fellows Alumni Organization.

In addition, our partner, Wendell Taylor, serves on the Executive Committee of The Boston Lawyers Group (BLG). The BLG  is a consortium of Boston law firms, corporations and government agencies committed to recruit, develop, advance and retain attorneys of color. Several of our associates participate in the BLG’s Mock Interview Program. This program matches attorneys with first year law students of color. Attorneys conduct mock one-on-one interviews and provide constructive feedback regarding the students’ resumes and interviewing skills.

As a firm, we know that our future success turns on our ability to attract and retain a broad spectrum of talented attorneys. Accordingly, we are dedicated to providing our attorneys of color with a lively and cohesive community of color within the firm, access to challenging work and excellent training and meaningful opportunities to interact with the broader legal community.