Diversity

Consistent with Thompson Coburn LLP’s core values, including our passion for excellence and commitment to treat each other with civility, respect, sensitivity and tolerance, the Firm is strongly committed to a diverse workforce. We are proud of our efforts to recruit, retain and provide career development opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds.

We recruit at more than 20 law schools nationwide with a special emphasis on recruiting at schools with significant numbers of women and minority students. We also participate in regional diversity hiring programs such as the Harvard Black Law Student Association Job Fair and the Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair. The Firm will also be participating in the upcoming inaugural St. Louis Diversity Job Fair.

The Firm took a leadership role in developing and participating in the St. Louis Diversity Clerkship Program, which places first-year minority students in law firms’ existing summer associate programs. We also support the St. Louis Internship Program by hiring minority high school students for summer positions. This innovative program is now being replicated throughout the country. The Firm’s internal Diversity Mentoring Program has helped insure that our associates receive quality work assignments, valuable networking opportunities, and the tools necessary to succeed within the Firm.

In 2007 the Firm established an annual scholarship in memory of Tom Eagleton, former U.S. Senator and firm partner. The Thomas F. Eagleton Scholarship is awarded each year to a qualified minority candidate attending his or her first year of law school at The University of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University or the University of Illinois-Champaign. In addition to the $10,000 scholarship, the scholarship recipient will be offered a paid summer internship with the Firm following his or her first year of law school. The recipient also will receive year-long mentoring from a Thompson Coburn partner.

The Firm has also been a leader in the St. Louis legal community, sponsoring Lawyers for Equality, a bar association of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) attorneys and legal professionals. Currently, Liz Blackwell, a firm partner, is serving as Chair of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis’ (BAMSL) GLBT Committee. In addition, the Firm has supported Outlaw, a Washington University law student resource group for GLBT students.

In August 2008, the Firm earned a perfect score of 100 points in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2009 Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work Survey. The survey is conducted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which evaluates nearly 600 businesses across the country on their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers/clients, and investors. The survey examines the degree to which companies protect employees from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression by using policies on diversity and inclusion, training, health care and domestic partnership benefits.

In addition, Thompson Coburn has broadened its recruiting efforts and has affirmed its commitment to diversity by participating in the annual Lavender Law Career Fair. The event supports Thompson Coburn's goal of becoming more inclusive and attracting members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities to the firm. The firm currently extends domestic partner benefits to lawyers and staff who are part of the GLBT community, and is focused on inclusion and any steps necessary to support that goal.

Thompson Coburn has a broadly inclusive Diversity Committee consisting of members of the Firm’s Management Committee and a cross-section of partners and associates. The committee, led by Roman Wuller, Management Committee member and chair of the Firm’s class action practice group, is charged with overseeing diversity initiatives and ensuring an inclusive, positive and supportive work environment at Thompson Coburn. The Firm has retained a seasoned diversity consultant to train and guide the Committee in its mission. With the guidance of this consultant, the Firm has completed a comprehensive cultural survey and attorneys of the Firm have participated in diversity training.

Thompson Coburn is a proud leader in the community in our commitment to diversity and diversity initiatives. We will continue to provide our attorneys and staff with a diverse and professionally rewarding workplace, and develop programs and policies designed to ensure that Thompson Coburn remains inclusive for individuals of all backgrounds.