Morrison Foerster Hosts 2024 Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Retreat

Morrison Foerster recently hosted its 2024 Diversity and Inclusion (D+I) Fellowship Retreat, a multi-day event designed to support the successful integration and professional development of summer associates in the firm's diversity-related fellowship programs.

This year's retreat brought together fellows from across the firm who are a part of our Keith Wetmore Fellowship for Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Law Fellowship, the 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Scholars program, and client partnerships-all of whom have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

The retreat's programming included a teambuilding cooking class and substantive sessions featuring MoFo attorneys and business professionals, and an outside consultant. One of the highlights of the retreat was the "Ask Me Anything" panel with Wetmore and SEO Law Fellowship alumni Jamis Barcott, Malika Moore, and Nishi Tavernier. The panelists shared valuable insights on how to effectively navigate law firm life including managing work assignments, succeeding with clients, and developing strategies for success during their pre-law, 1L, and 2L summers.

In addition, we hosted a session on DiSC, a personal behavioral assessment tool that helps people understand and improve their working styles. Following this session, Tasneem K. Khokha from GrowthPlay provided a comprehensive framework on how to approach collaboration in the workplace. Her session covered essential skills such as soliciting and utilizing feedback, communicating clearly, and managing expectations, all of which are crucial for building relationships across lines of difference and developing a successful legal career.

We concluded the day with a discussion among our Diversity Strategy Committee leaders, Alexis A. Amezcua, Purvi G. Patel, and Mark L. Whitaker. Moderated by Morrison Foerster general counsel Philip T. Besirof, this session allowed the fellows to learn more about their respective backgrounds, practice leadership responsibilities, mentorship, and the culture here at Morrison Foerster.

The D+I Fellowship Retreat is just one of the many ways Morrison Foerster invests in the next generation of legal professionals, ensuring they are well equipped to contribute to and thrive in the legal industry.

Thank you to all participants who made the 2024 Fellowship Retreat a memorable and impactful event.

More about the programs

Since 2012, the Keith Wetmore Fellowship for Excellence, Diversity, and Inclusion program has recognized and provided exceptional first- and second-year law students with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, with the training, mentorship, and exposure necessary for their professional development and engagement. The fellowship program is named after former chair Keith Wetmore, in honor of his dedication and commitment to diversity and inclusion, both within the firm and in the legal profession. It is one of the many ways that Morrison Foerster actualizes its commitment to removing barriers and creating opportunities for talented individuals with diverse experiences in the legal industry.

Since 2008, we have sponsored a group of pre-law interns through the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) program. SEO provides educational and career programs to students from underrepresented communities to ensure their professional success.

Through the LCLD 1L Scholars Program, each year MoFo partners with clients to host first-year law students who have opted to split their time between MoFo and our clients.

This year, we welcome a Generate fellow, who will be splitting time between MoFo and our client Generate Capital.

Learn more about diversity and inclusion at Morrison Foerster by visiting our Diversity page.

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