In the Profession

In the Profession: Long-Term Intentional Engagement

Creating and maintaining a truly diverse legal profession requires long-term and intentional engagement well ahead of post-secondary education. With this in mind, Maslon's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee has focused on three core areas of impact: 1) before law school; 2) law school; and 3) in the profession. Our efforts include the following:

• Before Law School:
  • Maslon UPLIFT: Launched in 2017, Maslon UPLIFT is a mock trial program serving eighth grade students who reflect the rich diversity of the Twin Cities. UPLIFT offers students engaging opportunities to learn from volunteer attorneys about the legal profession, criminal justice, and the court system. Participation in the program helps students build confidence, develop analytical and speaking skills, foster long term vision, and create a framework to pursue academic excellence in high school. Learn more.
  • STEP-UP Achieve: Maslon is proud to participate in the STEP-UP Achieve Jobs Program by providing paid internships throughout the summer to offer on-the-job experience to high school students with particular interest in legal careers. STEP-UP is facilitated by Achieve Twin Cities, the strategic nonprofit partner of Minneapolis Public Schools dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing inner-city students to meet challenges and accomplish their dreams of college, meaningful work, and a bright future.
  • Open Doors to Federal Courts Program: Maslon attorneys have presented as part of Federal Bar Association's Open Doors to Federal Courts program, a national initiative from the federal courts that features classroom visits by diverse attorneys to introduce some aspect of the law to high school students, as well as share why the attorneys chose a career in law, how they prepared themselves academically, and why they believe their service makes a difference. In Minnesota, Open Doors prioritizes public school districts with significant minority student populations and has featured both mock trial exercises and topical content including the 150th anniversary of the Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution, the life and career of Thurgood Marshall, and the Dred Scott case.
  • Court Camp: Maslon has been a steadfast supporter of Court Camp, a pipeline program created in 2018 by the Federal Bar Association and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Court Camp is a free week-long day program held at the United States Courthouse in Minneapolis, offering student participants a hands-on, inside look at the justice system and the people who work within it.
• Law School:
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice 1L Clerkship Program: Maslon is an engaged participant in the summer program created to promote the Twin Cities legal community to diverse 1L students, which facilitates the firm's annual partnership with an in-house legal department to offer first-year law students valuable work experiences across both settings during the summer.
  • Original Programming: Maslon hosts annual panel discussions for law students in the Twin Cities area, featuring diverse attorneys from government, private practice, corporations, public interest, and the judiciary, who share their stories, perspectives, and careers.
  • Sponsorships/Participation: Maslon actively sponsors and/or participates in the following recruiting opportunities:
    • The Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference (MMRC): An annual event that connects the largest legal employers in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area with diverse 2L and 3L candidates from around the country.
    • The Cook County Bar Association's Annual Minority Student Job Fair: An event created to bridge the employment gap between law firms, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and minority law students in the Chicago legal community.
• In the Profession:
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice: Maslon is a member of Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, a nonprofit association comprised of the leading Twin-Cities legal employers with the vision to create a vibrant and inclusive legal community and mission to strengthen the efforts of member organizations to attract, recruit, advance, and retain attorneys of color.
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD): Maslon is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, an organization of more than 300 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners—the leadership of the profession—who have dedicated themselves to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. 
  • Maslon attorneys serve in leadership roles, participate as engaged members, and the firm overall proudly supports the Minnesota Minority Lawyers Association, Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, Minnesota Black Lawyers Association, Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, Minnesota Women Lawyers, and Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association.