Law student recruiting newsletter Baker Hostetler

LEAP
Diversity At Baker Hostetler
Baker Hostetler has made a long-term commitment to incorporate diversity within our workforce.
We devote substantial time and resources to the recruitment, retention and development of minority and
women lawyers, not only because it is “the right thing to do,” but also because it is a business imperative.
We recognize that in order to serve the needs of our diverse client base, our lawyer population needs to
be equally diverse. It is because of these differences that we can bring a variety of perspectives and
experiences together and provide creative solutions for the challenges our clients face.
Columbus Office Hosts Luncheon for Minority Corporate Counsel
This fall, the Baker Hostetler Columbus Diversity Committee welcomed minority in-house counsel from companies
located in central Ohio for a lunchtime discussion of “Top Performance for In-House Counsel.”
Werten F.W. Bellamy, Founder of Stakeholders,
Inc. © and co-founder of the “Charting Your Own
Course Conference,” was the speaker. Columbus
partners Jeanne A. Griffin, Columbus Diversity
Coordinator and Otto Beatty III, Marketing Chair of
the Firmwide Diversity Committee, hosted the
luncheon to facilitate an open discussion of the
attributes of a “go-to” in-house lawyer.
Market leading companies represented at the
luncheon were Cardinal Health, American Electric
Power, Nationwide Insurance, Limited Brands, and
Ashland, Inc.
Immediately following the luncheon, members of the
Columbus Diversity Committee and Mr. Bellamy met
with the leadership of the Columbus Bar Association
(CBA), OSU Moritz College of Law, and Capital Law
School to discuss programming aimed at increasing
retention of young lawyers under the CBA’s Managing
Partners’ Diversity Initiative. Columbus office
Managing Partner George Hairston chairs the
Advisory Committee of the CBA Initiative.
The meetings were conducted as part of the Columbus
office’s comprehensive “Diversity Action Plan,”
which defines, implements and evaluates progress
on a set of goals and objectives on a yearly basis.
Left to right: Werten Bellamy, speaker; Ray Staggers,
American Electric Power; Otto Beatty, Columbus partner; and
Ivan Fong, Cardinal Health.
Baker&Hostetler LLP Winter 2006 — Volume 7 — Issue 1

Baker&Hostetler LLP
Paul D. White Scholarship Program
The Baker Hostetler Paul D. White Minority Scholarship Program
was established to assist our commitment to incorporate diversity
within our workforce and business strategies by providing law
students with valuable experience early in their careers.
Paul White
In tribute to Paul D. White, the firm’s first minority
partner and a pioneer for minorities in the
legal profession, a scholarship for minority law
students was instituted. Mr. White was respected
not only for his professional abilities and
accomplishments, but for his integrity and the
leadership role he assumed in the Cleveland,
Ohio, community.
His many accomplishments include:
— First African-American judge elected in
Cleveland
— Director of Law, City of Cleveland
— Trustee, Cleveland Bar Association and Legal
Aid Society
— Permanent Delegate to The Judicial Conference
of the Eighth District of Ohio
— Member, Ohio, American, National and
Norman S. Minor Bar Associations
— Cleveland Branch, NAACP, Distinguished
Service Award
To honor his memory and to encourage law
students to appreciate the efforts of those who
have come before them, the scholarship was
established in 1997.
Awarded annually to law students of African-
American, Hispanic, Asian-American, or
American Indian descent, the scholarship includes
a paid summer clerkship and a $6,000
(net) cash award. The firm has expended more
than $1.5 million in scholarships and clerkships
for minority law students since its inception.
Two Paul White Scholarship recipients, Rachel
Smith and Jack Patten, reflect on their experience
at Baker Hostetler.
Rachel M. Smith, Associate, Houston office
Rachel Smith
My first two years at Baker Hostetler have far exceeded my expectations in both
opportunities and experience. I have had opportunities to take and defend depositions,
argue motions in court, participate in trials, conduct witness interviews, and interact with
clients.
In addition to professional development, what has been most rewarding has been the
opportunity to work with great people who have taken a sincere interest in my career
growth. I am incredibly grateful to work in an environment where I am challenged to
grow and encouraged along the way.
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LEAP
Jack D. Patten, III, Associate, Denver office
When I first applied to law firms to be a summer
associate I was very skeptical as to whether I
would receive the individual attention to help
foster my development as an attorney and
whether I would have a life outside of the office. I
had heard all the rumors about “big firm” lifestyle
and the horror stories about many large firms
being the equivalent to sweatshops. However,
when I was selected as a Paul D. White scholar
and began to work at Baker, I quickly realized how
unfounded the rumors were.
As a first year summer associate, the attorneys at
Baker worked with me to develop my legal writing
and research skills. They gave me real projects
for real clients and they provided me with autonomy
to “control what was on my plate.” The
firm had an open door policy that allowed me to
speak with partners and associates when I
needed help on a project or ideas on how to
approach a certain issue. In addition, the firm
wholly supported my desire to remain active in the
community throughout the summer by allowing me
to leave early three days each week.
Although I was given an offer to return as a
second year summer associate, I felt that I
needed to interview with other firms to make sure
that I would be making the right decision to return
to Baker. To my astonishment, Baker even
encouraged me to take a look at the other law
firms because they also wanted me to make sure
that coming back to Baker would be the right
decision for me. After interviewing with many
other local, regional, and national firms, I determined
that Baker was the right place for me. I
suppose that Baker knew that even though I was
interviewing with other law firms the “Baker
culture” would draw me back to spend another
summer with the firm.
In coming to my conclusion I determined that
Baker is a law firm whose attorneys “work hard
and play hard.” The firm not only cares about
providing high end work for its clients, but, it cares
equally as much about making sure its attorneys
have a life and interests outside of work. This
was exemplified by continuing to allow me to
Jack Patten
pursue community outreach programs while I was
a second year summer associate. The firm even
supported me financially in one of the community
outreach programs!
At the end of my second summer Baker made me
an offer to return as an associate after law school.
I told the firm that I was interested in pursuing a
federal clerkship for 1-2 years and the firm wholly
supported my endeavor. The firm provided me
with a list of attorneys who completed clerkships
and encouraged me to speak to these attorneys to
get advice and help me prepare for interviews.
Attorneys even reviewed my application materials!
I was amazed at how the firm supported me in
pursuing a clerkship by not only helping me
prepare for interviews, but allowing me to return to
the firm after I completed my clerkship.
Now that I am an associate at Baker I am continually
amazed at how well the firm balances work
with a life outside of the office. I am glad to be a
part of a team that not only values the work I do
for clients, but values my personal interests and
spends a great amount of time fostering my skills
as an advocate and as a civil servant.
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Baker&Hostetler LLP
Baker Hostetler Associate Assumes Leadership Role in
Hispanic National Bar Association
“While I have been familiar with the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) for
many years, Baker Hostetler’s support of the HNBA made it possible for me to
attend my first annual conference in 2005. At that time another Baker Hostetler
attorney, Sean Andrade of the Los Angeles office, introduced me to a number of
HNBA members, many of whom I consider friends and mentors today.
One such contact is Mr. Lorenzo Trujillo, a former HNBA Regional President and
currently General Counsel to the HNBA. At the 2006 annual conference, Lorenzo
asked me to serve as a Deputy Regional President. One of my duties is to assist
the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association in preparing for their annual gala in early
2007.
Jeremy Atencio
As an official sponsor of the HNBA, Baker Hostetler is admired nationally for its
tremendous support of the Latino legal community. Latino lawyers continue to make incredible contributions
in Colorado. As a fifth-generation Colorado native, I find great satisfaction in following this
rich tradition.”
—Jeremy Atencio, Associate, Denver office
Houston Office Managing Partner Profiled in “View From the Top”
Lisa Pennington, Houston Office Managing Partner, was featured
in the Vault’s 1 st Edition, View From the Top: Q&A With Legal
Women Leaders. The publication is described as a “showcase
[for] the ‘best and the brightest,’ allowing us to learn from women
lawyers who are strong, capable professionals—powerful, lasting
role models for us all.”
Lisa Pennington
Ms. Pennington, who was the first woman to
manage a major law office in Texas, is Chair of
the firm’s Women’s Committee, in addition to
serving on the Policy Committee, which is the
firm’s governing body. Asked how she expects
the practice of law to change in the next ten
years, Ms. Pennington said:
“I think women are going to take over this profession.
That’s our secret. Look at law schools that
are pumping out about 54 percent women . . .
And I will tell you on this side of the desk that
women interview very, very well when you’re
looking for summer clerks, and they tend to do
better as a group than men. So I’m seeing a
lot—not just my firm, but a lot of other firms—
where some of the first-year classes can be
entirely women. The challenge for us is we’ve
got to keep women in the workforce. Raising the
family always seems to fall disproportionately on
[women]. But if we can keep women in the
practice of law, we’ll dominate it.”
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LEAP
Baker Hostetler Recognized
For Diversity Efforts
Our Associates give Baker Hostetler high ratings for the
firm’s diversity efforts. In the 2006 Vault Guide to the Top
100 Law Firms, BH ranked in the Top 20 for “Quality of
Life” rankings for “Diversity for Minorities.” This is the third
year in a row that BH has been listed in the top 20 of firms
nationwide.
Baker Welcomes Fall Associates
Seven of Baker Hostetler’s offices welcomed new associates this fall. Twenty-four associates from
13 law schools began their careers in a BH office, representing many of the country’s top law programs.
This year’s class includes former editors of law school publications and members of
numerous academic organizations.
Cleveland
Brian Bulson
Ohio State University
Lisa Cox
Case Western Reserve University
Melissa DeGaetano
University of Michigan
Heather Kimmel
Ohio State University
Robin Lyden
Ohio State University
Kelly Skeat
University of Virginia
Jay Stiffler
Case Western Reserve University
Columbus
Kristopher Armstrong
Ohio State University
Gregory Flax
University of Michigan
Mark Hatcher
Capital University Law School
Denver
Jack Patten III
University of Denver
Alexandra Rodu
University of Virginia
Houston
Laura Lawton
University of Houston Law Center
James Nye
University of Houston Law Center
Stephen Olson
University of Texas
John Petrelli III
University of Houston Law Center
Sarah Tobin
Vanderbilt University
New York
Reed Davis
New York University
Essence Liburd
New York University
Orlando
Jorge Castillo
University of Florida
Ajda Demirdoken
University of Florida
David Oigarden
Vanderbilt University
Cynthia Raleigh
Miami University
Rebecca Shwayri
University of Florida
Not all fall associates had passed their state bar exams at press time.
In accordance with District of Columbia Bar rules, the two fall
associates in our Washington, D.C., office will be announced after
they have been admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.
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Baker&Hostetler LLP
Baker Attorneys Involved in Numerous
Regional and National Diversity Events
Our attorneys are encouraged to participate in various local,
regional and national events and the firm looks for opportunities
to sponsor programs whose goals match ours in
advancing the case for women and minorities in the legal
profession.
Recent participation and/or sponsorships include:
— ABA Women Rainmakers (Annual & Fall meetings)
— California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
— Charting Your Own Course Foundation
— Cleveland and Columbus Bar Associations (Minority Clerkship & Minority Vendor Programs)
— Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
— Cook County (Chicago) Bar Association, Minority Student Job Fair
— Corporate Counsel Women of Color, Career Strategies Conference
— Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention
— Just the Beginning Foundation
— Latin American Education Fund
— MCCA (Minority Corporate Council Association) Annual CLE Expo
— MCCA “Creating Pathways to Diversity” Conference
— MCCA Regional Diversity dinners (honoring “Employers of Choice”)
— Minority Outside Counsel Networking Conference
— National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Convention
— National Bar Association Annual Convention and Commercial Law Section Corporate Counsel Conference
— National Black Law Students Association National Conference, First Annual National Job Fair, regional and
law school events
— National Employment Law Council
Baker Hostetler Contacts
FIRMWIDE HIRING PARTNER
Elizabeth A. Dellinger
216.861.7793
edellinger@bakerlaw.com
CINCINNATI
Kimberlee Nickolas, Recruiting Coordinator
513.929.3480
knickolas@bakerlaw.com
DENVER
Maureen Herschberger, Recruiting Coordinator
303.764.4130
mherschberger@bakerlaw.com
HOUSTON
Elizabeth N. Turney, Recruiting Coordinator
713.646.1647
eturney@bakerlaw.com
ORLANDO
Kelly Searcy, Recruiting Coordinator
407.649.3929
ksearcy@bakerlaw.com
WASHINGTON, DC
Johnette Roberts, Recruiting Coordinator
202.861.1525
jroberts@bakerlaw.com
CLEVELAND
Jennifer Pethel, Recruiting Coordinator
216.861.7113
jpethel@bakerlaw.com
COLUMBUS
Jeanie Fulton, Recruiting Coordinator
614.462.4703
jfulton@bakerlaw.com
LEAP
LOS ANGELES
Irma Chavira, Recruiting Coordinator
213.975.1714
ichavira@bakerlaw.com
NEW YORK
James Coffman, Recruiting Coordinator
212.589.4257
jcoffman@bakerlaw.com
FIRMWIDE
Dee Driscole, Attorney Recruitment
and Development Manager
216.861.7092
ddriscole@bakerlaw.com
Baker Hostetler publishes LEAP—both in print and on-line. It is distributed periodically to keep you informed of the legal experience and
associate programs (LEAP) across our firm.
We know how valuable this updated information is in assisting you in making the jump from your law school to our law firm. If you have
comments or a story suggestion, or if you would like to view past issues of LEAP, please visit www.leap2baker.com.
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