Diversity

WASHINGTON (February 27, 2019) – Harrity & Harrity, LLP is pleased to announce the publication of its annual diversity report. The 2018/2019 report highlights the firm’s successes in the past year with regards to diversity in the patent law field.

“2018 was a banner year for hiring at our firm,” said John Harrity, the managing partner at Harrity and head of the diversity committee. “Our diversity committee oversaw the hiring and training of our third annual diversity fellow, So Ra Ko, who I am pleased to announce will be joining our firm full time after she finishes law school this coming Spring. To supplement our efforts at recruiting the next generation of diverse attorneys, we have implemented what we like to call, ‘The Rooney Rule 2.0,’ a hiring policy where we are committed to interviewing a female or minority candidate for every male, non-minority candidate we interview for any position at our firm.”

Harrity’s commitment to diversity is evidenced by their one-of-a-kind “Rooney Rule 2.0”, and the upcoming Harrity Minority Firm Incubator.  For more information about Harrity’s diversity commitment, visit harrityllp.com/diversity

The 2018/2019 report is available here https://harrityllp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2018-2019-Harrity-Annual-Diversity-Report.pdf.

About Harrity & Harrity, LLP

Harrity & Harrity is the nation’s leading patent preparation and prosecution firm specializing in the electrical and mechanical technology areas, and is considered a Go-To Firm for the Patent 300™.  Their clients trust in their high-quality work, experienced people, industry leading innovation, and outstanding service. For more information, visit harrityllp.com/.

Download full press release HERE.

The Harrity Diversity Fellowship is an integral part of the firm’s ongoing diversity initiative to recruit, retain, and advance attorneys who will contribute to the diversity of the firm’s practice.

The Harrity Diversity Fellowship is comprised of three parts:

• A paid summer associate clerkship position at Harrity during the summer;
• Mentoring throughout the year by our firm’s attorneys; and
• A $10,000 scholarship – Harrity & Harrity will award $5,000 to all Diversity Fellowship recipients upon completion of their summer associate clerkship with the firm; and award an additional $5,000 to those who join our firm as an associate, after receiving and accepting an associate offer with our firm following the completion of their following summer clerkship with us.

Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates must be in good standing as a law student at an ABA-accredited law school; demonstrate a record of academic and professional achievement; contribute meaningfully to the diversity of our firm and legal community; and have a sincere interest in our firm and our practice area.

Mentoring:
Each recipient will be assigned an attorney mentor. Mentors will serve as a liaison between the student and our firm, and facilitate the student’s professional growth and learning. The mentoring relationship begins as soon as the recipients have been named and continues at least through the academic year. Students will meet with their mentors multiple times per year, in person when possible. Should the student receive and accept an offer to return for a second summer, the mentoring relationship would continue for another academic year.

Scholarship:
A grant of $5,000 will be awarded in September of the recipient’s following year of law school. The grant can be used for expenses at the student’s discretion. An additional $5,000 will be offered to those who receive and accept an associate offer with our firm after the completion of their summer clerkship with us.

Fellowship Application Process:
Applications will be accepted from December 1, 2018 through February 28, 2019.

To apply, please visit https://harrityllp.com/diversity/diversity-fellowship/ and click on the “Start Your Application Today!”.

Harrity & Harrity was mentioned in Law360’s article regarding firms that have adopted alternative hiring practices to the Mansfield Rule. The Mansfield Rule, created in 2016, states that at least 30% of the candidate pool for promotions, leadership positions, and senior level hiring must be comprised of either diverse candidates or women. The Rooney Rule 2.0 expands on that idea.

“Virginia-based patent law boutique Harrity & Harrity launched what it calls the “Rooney Rule 2.0” at the end of 2015. The law firm has committed to interview at least one woman or minority candidate for every nonminority male candidate it interviews for both attorney and nonattorney positions.

According to one of the law firm’s founding partners, John Harrity, the law firm has seen a good deal of progress since it implemented the rule. Of the eight attorneys it has hired since November 2015, half were either minorities or women, and across the law firm, out of the 19 employees hired during that time period, 12 are women and minorities.”

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To learn more about Harrity & Harrity’s diversity initiatives, please visit our Diversity Page.