Diversity Initiatives

Crowe & Dunlevy has long supported diversity initiatives at the national and local levels. In 1999, the firm was a founding member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Opportunity Scholarship, created for the purpose of assisting talented young minority students in completing their legal studies. The firm has historically been a sponsor of the ABA Spirit of Excellence Awards Luncheon, at which lawyers and others are recognized for their works in creating diversity in the legal profession and advancing justice for minority Americans. Additionally, the firm encourages and supports an attorney who serves annually as a coach for the Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chapter of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Oklahoma College of Law’s Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition team.

Each year, the firm participates in and sponsors the Sunbelt Minority Recruitment Program which seeks to provide job access opportunities to students and recent graduates who may be otherwise at risk of being underserved. The firm also partners with the public schools in the community to encourage minority students to consider careers in the legal profession and has established a financial partnership with the Southwest Region of the National Black Law Students Association by serving as a regional convention sponsor for the past several years.

In 2005, the Crowe & Dunlevy Diversity Scholars Program was established at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and at the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2012. This program provides financial support for minority law students who demonstrate both need and commitment to the field of law and has assisted 22 law students with financial assistance of more than $240,000 since it’s inception. In addition, Crowe & Dunlevy hosts a Diversity Reception at our Oklahoma City office every fall and invites law students from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Oklahoma City University School of Law and the University of Tulsa College of Law as well as local attorneys, judges and Crowe & Dunlevy attorneys.

William G. Paul, past ABA president and director at the firm, made increasing diversity in the legal profession the top priority during his year in office (1999 – 2000). He lead efforts to establish the ABA Diversity Center, and broadened efforts of all ABA entities to monitor and increase their own diversity is a result of those efforts. In 2002, he was awarded the ABA Spirit of Excellence Award by the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity for his commitment to improving opportunities in the profession for lawyers of color.

Jimmy K. Goodman, director and past president of the firm, served on the ABA’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession as Commissioner (1999 – 2002), the ABA’s Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice as a Council member (2003 – 2004), and the ABA’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (2008 – 2010). He is former co-chair of the ABA Task Force on Human Tracking and currently serves on the ABA Board of Governors and the American Bar Foundation Board of Directors.

As further service toward promoting diversity in our profession and judicial system, our attorneys regularly participate in reviewing applications received for the ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship and for the ABA Litigation Section’s Judicial Intern Opportunity Program.

Many of the firm’s attorneys are also very involved in the Native American communities throughout Oklahoma. They serve as board members of Indian interest nonprofits, speak frequently at tribal colleges and gatherings and dedicate their time in the form of volunteerism and pro bono work for many of the tribal communities.

Crowe & Dunlevy hosted two students from the Douglass High School Law and Public Safety Career Academy for a joint five-week internship with R.K. Black during the summer of 2017.

B. Paul

William G. Paul

Of Counsel, Crowe & Dunlevy
ABA President (1999 – 2000)

“We can best serve society if members of the legal profession come from all segments of the population, reflecting the diversity of the United States…”

J. Goodman

Jimmy K. Goodman

Of Counsel, Crowe & Dunlevy
Chair Emeritus, Diversity Committee

“The Diversity Scholars Program is a reflection of Crowe & Dunlevy’s long-standing commitment to enhancing the diversity of the legal profession. Lawyers play an essential role in maintaining the rule of law and it’s important the composition of the legal profession mirror the community that it serves.”