Law student recruiting newsletter Baker Hostetler

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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. -2-
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. -3-
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Law student recruiting newsletter Baker Hostetler

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