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Diversity at Bullivant means valuing all of the ways that we are different from, and similar to, each other.
Diversity and Inclusion Initiative
Bullivant is committed to being a truly diverse corporation that employs individuals from all walks of life. We foster a workplace culture of inclusion that respects and values the diverse backgrounds, beliefs, differences, and life experiences of each individual. Bullivant strives to develop and retain diverse and talented individuals who reflect a representative cross-section of our communities.
Our firm welcomes diversity in race and ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, physical abilities, and other qualities and characteristics that enrich our perspectives and problem-solving expertise. Bullivant strives to make sure that each individual is in a position to thrive personally and professionally.
By embracing diversity and inclusion, we are better able to creatively serve our clients and to reflect their workforce and values as well as the communities in which we live and work.
Commitment to Diversity
Bullivant has implemented an action plan that includes, without limitation:
- Commitment. Bullivant fosters a workplace in which everyone is valued, treated with respect and in a manner consistent with how each individual wants to be treated. Bullivant is creating a work environment that engages, enables and empowers each individual to do their best work by, among other things, leveraging their differences.
Formation of a Diversity Committee. This committee is composed of attorneys and professional staff and is charged with ensuring that strategic actions are taken to make Bullivant a truly diverse workplace. The committee meets monthly, takes action, and reports directly to the firm's Board of Directors on Bullivant's diversity initiative.
- Cultural Audit. Bullivant hired nationally-known diversity consultant Peggy Nagae, and conducted an environmental audit/analysis of the firm's current culture and make-up. Ms. Nagae provided her analysis and recommendations on how Bullivant could become a more diverse and inclusive law firm, and Bullivant is committed to incorporating those recommendations.
Recruiting Diverse Lawyers. Bullivant is committed to recruiting, retaining, developing, promoting, and marketing the skills of the diverse talents at all levels within the firm. A primary goal of Bullivant's Hiring Committee is to recruit lawyers from diverse backgrounds. Bullivant is active within our local law schools and participates in several minority job fairs in and outside our six-office cities and four states.
- Retention. Bullivant's diversity effort is focused on retention through mentoring, professional development, and career advancement of all attorneys, with particular emphasis on attorneys from diverse backgrounds.
- Professional Development. Our professional development director is responsible for creating a mentoring program and developing a professional development program as well as working closely with the diversity committee for hiring.
- Internal Education. Bullivant is committed to establishing and supporting the education, communication, client service, and other related programs that increase the understanding and appreciation of cultural and other differences within the firm. Through efforts to ensure the elimination of bias and the encouragement of inclusion, we can create an enriching and productive workforce and workplace.
- External Outreach. Bullivant devotes substantial resources to diversity outreach and encourages its members to be involved in community organizations, ethnic bar associations, and other organizations that foster diversity. Through their participation, Bullivant attorneys can further recruit attorneys through these diverse organizations and build relationships with attorneys from diverse geographic areas, as well as ethnic backgrounds. Bullivant supports involvement and leadership positions in professional organizations that promote diversity and inclusion.
- Client Involvement. Bullivant actively seeks to represent a broad range of clients to ensure that their perspectives are reflected by and within Bullivant and to determine if there are areas where Bullivant can further improve their client service.
- Ongoing Evaluations. Bullivant is committed to continued evaluation of its diversity initiatives, policies, and practices to ensure that we reach our goals and set new ones.
Commitment in Action
Bullivant believes it is important to increase diversity in our profession and within the firm. Internally, our diverse lawyers hold leadership positions, and Bullivant also has an active firm-wide diversity committee.
Bullivant attorneys are involved in numerous community and diverse organizations, including:
- African American Chamber of Commerce (Oregon and Southwest Washington chapters)
- American Jewish Committee
- Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association
- Asian Bar of Washington
- Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom
- Beta Theta Pi National Fraternity
- Boy Scouts of America
- California Minority Counsel Program
- Greater Seattle Business Association – the GLBT Chamber of Commerce
- Hope Leadership Institute Japanese American Society of Oregon
- Japanese American Society of Oregon Minority Corporate Counsel
- Lavender Law
- Minority Corporate Counsel Association
- Monte Jade Science & Technology Association, Asian American Chapter (MJAA)
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
- National Law Institute
- No Glass Ceiling Task Force (Bar Association of San Francisco)
- Northwest Indian Bar Association
- Northwest Women's Law Center
- Opportunities for Law in Oregon (OLIO)
- Oregon Food Bank
- Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association, Oregon
- Oregon Hispanic Bar Association
- Oregon Women Lawyers
- Minority Lawyers Association Oregon State Bar, Diversity Section
- National Hispanic Bar Association
- Qlaw: The GLBT Bar Association of Washington
- Sacramento Asian Bar Association
- Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
- Salvation Army
- Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys
- Washington State Bar Diversity Section
- Washington Women Lawyers
- Women Business Owners
- Women Lawyers of Sacramento
Bullivant is proud of its lawyers' accomplishments in their communities, and is working towards building even greater diversity within our firm and within our profession. Recent highlights of activities in our communities that also reflect Bullivant's commitment to diversity include:
- A scholarship program funded by Bullivant for a summer associate position awarded to a first-year racial/ethnic minority law student;
- Bullivant, in partnership with the African American Chamber of Commerce, has established a scholarship program to benefit minority youth who are attending Portland/Vancouver metropolitan-area colleges;
- Bullivant has sponsored the Cascade AIDS Project "Art for Life" Fundraiser and provides pro bono legal services for the organization's housing program;
- Bullivant participates in minority job fairs, including the Northwest Minority Job Fair in Seattle, Washington; the Oregon Minority Job Fair in Portland, Oregon; the Bay Area Diversity Career Fair in San Francisco, California; and the Cook County Minority Job Fair in Chicago, Illinois - which attracts talented and diverse law students from throughout the country.