Commitment to Diversity

Rodey fosters a firm-wide culture that promotes diversity.

This culture is reflected in Rodey’s efforts to recruit lawyers who will provide unique background, experience, and perspective, which benefits not only the firm, but the clients we serve.  Rodey strongly supports the professional careers of female attorneys, attorneys of color, LGBT attorneys, and attorneys with disabilities.

In order to maintain and further enhance this culture, Rodey has a Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee which assists with recruiting and retaining lawyers, as well as promoting firm-wide diversity and inclusiveness.  Our lawyers also serve on bar associations which support and promote the advancement of attorneys of color, as well as attorneys of various religious faiths.  Our former managing director, Charles Vigil, was honored by the University of Michigan Law School with the J.T. Canales Distinguished Alumni Award for significant contribution to empowering the Latino community and the next generation of Latino lawyers and leaders.  Denise Chanez, Committee Member, is the co-chair of the State Bar of New Mexico Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession.  She is the Immediate Past President of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association and a member of its Board of Directors.  She is one of Albuquerque Business First’s Women of Influence, 2016 and was recently named 2016 Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the State Bar of New Mexico.

The Rodey culture is collegial, team-oriented, and balanced.  We have many of the finest litigators and transactional attorneys in the state, some of whom are also mountain climbers, musicians, ultra-marathoners, rugby players, chicken owners, farmers, gardeners, beekeepers, chefs, backpackers, Scout leaders, equestrians, pinball enthusiasts, golfers, ham radio operators, woodworkers, photographers, oil painters, private pilots, sailors, faith leaders, and patrons of the arts.  We also have attorneys who are dual citizens, and who have lived in foreign countries.  Many of us had unique careers before the law, including engineering, nursing, active military duty, fire-fighting, professional moving, construction, journalism, mine inspecting, gas station operation, ranching, teaching, book and wine reviewing, and sports commentating.  We are alumni of twenty-one law schools from around the country.

Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee

The Firm has a Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee, which assists in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. The Diversity and Inclusiveness Committee reflects the diversity of our firm and our state, and is comprised of members from a wide variety of backgrounds.  These individuals share a strong commitment to increasing the Firm’s diversity and use their unique experiences and heritage to support and further that goal.

Members

• Valerie R. Denton, Chair
• Samantha Hults
• Melanie Stambaugh
• Luis Carrasco
• Ali Dyer, Admin Representative​

Recruiting and Retention

The Firm seeks to recruit and retain new and lateral attorneys with strong legal skills and diverse backgrounds. Part of that recruiting effort is developing strong relationships with professional, educational, and community groups that share the Firm’s commitment to diversity. The Firm also is committed to maintaining a strong relationship with the law school that serves this State. In addition, the Firm participates in the State Bar Summer Law Clerk program, offering employment opportunities for diverse and deserving students at UNM Law School. Each year, the Firm recruits at least one of its summer associates through that program. The Firm recognizes that recruiting alone is insufficient to create and maintain the diverse workforce that is critical to long-term success. The Firm’s primary goal with respect to retention is to ensure that all attorneys receive the training, mentoring, and support that they need to succeed.

Firm Culture

The Firm recognizes that true progress in the area of diversity requires making diversity a core value shared by all members of the Firm. It requires involving key decision-makers who can take meaningful steps to implement diversity initiatives. The Firm has significant cross-membership between the key committees that affect the recruiting, hiring, and retention of diverse attorneys.

At Rodey, we consider our diversity efforts critical to the level of service that we provide to our clients. We also recognize that a commitment to diversity requires sustained attention and effort. Achieving and supporting diversity is an ongoing endeavor, one that we have made a priority.