For over 25 years, Houston law firms, government agencies, corporations, and courts have supported the HBA’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, with the goal of creating new employment and mentoring opportunities for underrepresented first-year law students from Houston’s three law schools who demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. This initiative is an important part of the HBA’s mission to serve the needs of the legal community through a vibrant and inclusive local bar. To reach these objectives, the HBA believes it is essential to foster the development of law students before they embark on their legal careers. As you may be aware, most law firms and corporate legal departments hire only second-year law students for summer clerkships. The HBA believes that there is a need to extend employment and mentoring opportunities even further, to include underrepresented first-year law students who demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. We are pleased that many Houston area law firms, corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and state and federal judges support this important mission. Toward that goal, Houston-based legal employers and the HBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee are partnering to provide 1L clerkship opportunities through the HBA 1L Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summer Clerkship and Mentoring Program (the “DE&I Program”).
The HBA’s DE&I Program is open to all first-year students regardless of race/ethnicity, color, religion, citizenship, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military service, disability, or other characteristic or condition, protected by applicable law.
2024-2025 Co-Chairs:
Anthony Franklyn, U.S. Attorney's Office
Amy Tomlinson, 127th District Court
Samantha Torres, Okin Adams LLP
Additional Resources
In the July-August 2021 episode of Behind the Lines: The Houston Lawyer Podcast, host Brooksie Boutet discusses immigration law practice updates with attorney Anuj Shah and highlights the HBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summer Clerkship Program with Committee Co-chair Daniella Martinez and 2021 program alumnae Silvia Chicas and Goldia Ezekwere.
See an overview of the committee’s initiatives
For more information on this committee, contact HBA Projects & Events Director Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org or 346-471-3418.
2024 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon, June 6
Thank you to our event sponsors, speakers, and DEI Committee members!
Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 HBA Diversity Awards and Law Day Contest!
View the 2024 HBA DEI Summer Associate Luncheon Program
HBA Ambassador Leadership Panel, June 5
On June 5, the HBA DEI Committee proudly hosted the inaugural Ambassador Leadership Panel titled "What It Means to be a Leader in the Bar." A special thank you to all of our HBA ambassadors who attended.
We also want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our distinguished panelists, all former HBA presidents:
- Benny Agosto, Jr., Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner
- Alistair Dawson, Beck Redden LLP
- Lynne Liberato, Haynes and Boone, LLP
- Neil Kelly, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
A huge shout-out goes to Munck Wilson Mandala and DEI Committee Member Teresa Hudson for graciously hosting the event. We appreciate DEI Ambassador Committee Chair Diamond Griffith for her exceptional coordination, and Immediate Past President Diana Gomez for her inspiring vision that brought this event to life. Thanks to everyone, this event was truly a success.
2024 DEI 1L Summer Clerkship Bootcamp, April 13
\
Thank you to our speakers!
Kohl Anderson, Gibson Dunn |
Mariana S. Avendaño, Hogan Lovells |
Hon. Natalia Cornelio, 351st Criminal Court |
Christopher Caudill, Blank Rome |
Dalyn D. Dessaure, Latham & Watkins LLP |
Michael Herman, Federal Public Defenders Office |
Shahnoor A. Khuwaja, BakerHostetler |
Sushant Mohan, Baker & Hostetler LLP |
Crystal Okorafor, City of Houston |
Hon. Ike Okorafor, Associate Judge Harris County Criminal Courts |
Vaibhavi "Avi" Parmar, Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP |
Lena Silva, Beck Redden LLP |
Jackie Rex Tobin, Steptoe LLP |
Bryan Zubay, Zehl & Associates |
To learn more about our speakers, click here!
The employer/student application period has closed for the 2024 DEI 1L Summer Clerkship Program. Thank you to all who are participating!
To report your hires, please contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org.
South Texas College of Law Houston CSO DEI Summer Program Info Session, Oct. 31
Missed the program? Don't worry! Click here to view the Zoom presentation.
*Note: Technical issues disabled the video after 32 minutes, but the audio continued to function for the remainder of the recording.
HBA DEI 1L Summer Clerkship Program Meet & Greet, Nov. 6
Thank you to all of the DEI 1L Summer Clerkship employers and law students who joined us on November 6!
Read about the 2023 Diversity Award Recipients in the July/August issue of The Houston Lawyer by clicking the article below.
" The HBA DEI 1L Summer Clerkship Program provides a special opportunity to work alongside judges and assist in the development of the law. In addition, I have gained access to several legal professionals in different areas of the law that will serve as lifelong mentors. As a first in my family to pursue law, being a member of this program provides me with the tools necessary to become the best attorney I can be." – Asha A. Hayes, HBA 2023 D&I 1L clerk from South Texas College of Law Houston |
|
“I have met so many wonderful professionals and gained such valuable insight (at the HBA DEI Boot Camp) that I will definitely be on the lookout for any future events. I think what I most enjoyed was seeing so many successful, eager and passionate minority professionals all in one room. The energy from everyone who presented, that were on the panel and even from those in attendance, was so contagious that I feel as though the mini-burnout I feel from the near end of 1L year is gone. Bravo to everyone involved!” – Vanessa Valdez, HBA 2023 DEI 1L clerk from Thurgood Marshall School of Law |
|
“I am interning for Justice Rivas-Malloy and it has truly been a beautiful experience so far. Even with the challenges of a virtual program, I have felt included and welcome every step of the way. I cannot recommend interning for her chambers enough to any future applicants.” – Silvia C. Chicas, HBA 2021 D&I 1L clerk from University of Houston Law Center |
“ This has been one of HBA’s most successful programs to date. We wanted to make sure that the students placed in these positions have all of the tools necessary to continue that success and, more importantly, excel in their summer clerkships.”