Diversity
Diversity, equity and inclusion are core values of Dowd Bennett, and have been embraced as priorities since our founding. We strive to recruit the best attorneys and staff members from varying backgrounds, and believe diverse viewpoints provide the broad perspectives needed to effectively collaborate with our clients and devise the strategies that lead to wins at trial.
Dowd Bennett’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is reflected in who we are: more than a third of our attorneys are women and people of color, and 50 percent of our partners are women and people of color. Our staff members, who are over 90 percent women and 18 percent women of color, also reflect our embracement of diversity. Most importantly, at Dowd Bennett our diversity, equity and inclusion go well beyond statistical representation. We have a culture that provides all of our attorneys and staff members with the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the firm’s success through serving in key roles in client relationships and on high-stakes representations. The diversity of Dowd Bennett’s client teams is a strength that adds value for clients.
We also provide market-leading benefits such as a four-month paid parental leave policy that applies equally to male and female lawyers and staff.
“A lot of organizations talk about diversity but don’t follow through. We make it happen.”
– EDWARD DOWD JR., Founding Partner
Diversity initiatives at Dowd Bennett begin with our recruiting practices. Whether hiring lawyers, participating in the Diversity Clerkship Program or recruiting summer interns, our goal is to ensure there are always diverse candidates in the pipeline. The Diversity Clerkship Program plays an integral role in assisting the firm in achieving its diversity goals by permitting the firm to establish strong relationships with promising diverse candidates in their 1L summers.
Dowd Bennett’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts reach beyond our walls and into the St. Louis community through our significant participation and financial support of local bar organizations’ diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, our support of diversity scholarships at Missouri law schools, and supporting local organizations dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion such as the St. Louis Urban League.