Diversity
2025 Diversity in Law Scholarship & Paid 1L summer clerkship application
Our Commitment
Awareness Breeds Action
We recognize that nurturing a culture of diversity in our firm is more than policy statements and written goals. It requires continuous effort, focus and action to build awareness of the value that diversity brings to our firm and our clients.
Zelle has been a strong supporter of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and has given generous donations to its scholarship program, which helps law students meet financial needs and exposes them to a group of leaders in the profession who can help to mentor and guide their early entry into the profession. In addition, Zelle has made a substantial financial commitment to pipeline programs and affinity bars. The firm’s cy pres awards will benefit the Urban League and United Negro College Fund.
The firm encourages its attorneys to participate in community events and locally and nationally based professional organizations. Our partners and associates are active in the Chinese Bar Association, Dallas Women’s Lawyers Association, Minnesota Women Lawyers, Women in Law Empowerment Forum, China International Economic Law Society, Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Women Antitrust Plaintiffs’ Attorneys, South Asian Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee, Federal Bar Association Minnesota Chapter’s Diversity Committee, Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, LGBT Litigator Commitee of the ABA Section of Litigation, and ABA-TIPS Diversity Section.
Zelle also works with its clients to encourage diversity when practical. As an example, the firm successfully petitioned a San Francisco Superior Court administering a class action antitrust settlement to authorize the distribution of $40 million to more than 100 non-profit organizations in California, including the California Women's Law Center, Asian Law Caucus, Inc., and several California-based United Way organizations. This distribution was part of a $96 million settlement that was approved by the state court in San Francisco, California in 2008. For additional information regarding this case and the overall settlement, please click here.
Zelle's Diversity Outreach Plan
Zelle has a Diversity Outreach Plan to guide the firm’s participation in diversity scholarship, pipeline and affinity group initiatives and programs. Each element of this plan is intended either to encourage and facilitate diverse students in choosing law as a profession or to support and recognize the contributions and interests of the diverse professionals among us. This plan testifies to the firm’s meaningful, ongoing support of efforts to increase diversity in the practice of law. For additional information about the firm's Diversity Outreach Plan, please click here.
Supporting Other Diverse Businesses
Consistent with our Diversity Commitment, the firm is active in identifying and expanding opportunities for businesses owned by minorities. The firm maintains a list of highly qualified minority owned and operated vendors (consultants, accountants, court reporters, etc.) to utilize on its cases.
If you have additional questions related to Zelle's diversity efforts, please feel free to contact our Diversity Coordinator, Kristin Suga Heres at kheres@zellelaw.com.
