Law fi rms and corporations
need to help students understand these keys to success, Chin says, noting that some students simply don’t know how to act at a business lunch or a fancy party. “When I got that fi rst job at White & Case I had to go out and buy suits. I didn’t even own a suit. I didn’t know what a “white-shoe” law fi rm was. I had never even heard the term,” he says, referring to the term traditionally used to describe elite, old-line law fi rms. “It’s great for kids to be in a professional
offi ce setting to learn the ethic,” Chin believes. “T ere are programs where fi rms take on high school or college interns and give them some exposure prelaw, and I think those programs have had some good success. To the extent that fi rms are not participating, they absolutely should be.” For the past six years Chin has been co-
director of a minority mentorship program at Fordham, mentoring students himself and recruiting alumni to do the same, Martin says. Over the years, as a district judge and now as an appellate judge, Chin has hired, and continues to hire, law clerks and interns from Fordham and other law schools, and he continues to participate in minority internship programs. Successful lawyers should be the impe-
tus for mentoring and diversity programs. “When I look at Don Liu, for example, Xerox’s general counsel, I see someone who has never shied away from diversity eff orts and mentoring programs. He has embraced
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them. And you know what? T ey were good for him as well. Sometimes you have a minority lawyer who thinks ‘Wow, I have made it and it might make me seem ethnic if I get involved in some of these things.’ And when you look at the personal success that many people have had who have embraced diversity, embraced mentorship programs, you say ‘Wow, this is good for business as well.’ I think that is why you see some companies doing better than others — because it is good for business,” says Chin, who is also active in NAPABA. A picture emerges of a man who loves giv-
ing back. Fordham Law is extremely proud of him. “He exemplifi es the Fordham lawyer as excellent but also ethical, public-spirited, con- scientious; he works as our school motto—in the service of others,” Martin says. “T at really says everything about Denny Chin.”
LEADING THE WAY T ere is inherent pressure in being fi rst in any situation. T e pressure is compounded
MARCH/APRIL 2012 DIVERSITY & THE BAR®
THE JUDGE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF NAPABA.
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