Marta M. Chou: Litigator is Passionately Committed to Diversity
May 29, 2006
Reprinted with permission from Minnesota Lawyer.
The daughter of a Cuban immigrant, Minneapolis attorney Marta M. Chou says diversity issues have always been important to her. In addition to serving as chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Diversity Committee, Chou is a member of the association’s Task Force on Diversity in the Profession, the Twin Cities Committee on Minority Lawyers in Large Law Firms and the diversity committee at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, where she practices intellectual property law.
Chou also was instrumental in the creation of the Minnesota Minority Clerkship Program, which promotes the advancement of students of color in law firms. Chou benefited from a similar program in Wisconsin, and has since felt a desire to give something back to the minority community.
What made you decide to become a lawyer?
I did debate in high school in Michigan, and we won the novice state championship for the first time in our school’s history. It was a big deal ... I think that’s when people said I could debate, I could argue, so of course I should go on to law school.
Do you travel at all in your practice with Robins Kaplan?
I did a lot last year — to New York, California, Washington, D.C. A lot of it was dealing with experts. It’s interesting because as a second-year associate, I don’t know if that’s normal or not. I was able to work with an Israeli labor law expert who had come in from Israel, so that was really interesting working with her — the same thing with an accounting software expert.
What is the Minnesota Minority Clerkship Program, and has it been successful?
It’s a new program designed to foster diversity within the Minnesota legal community by matching selected students of color from the four Minnesota law schools with participating Minnesota legal employers. Employers hire selected students of color after their first year of law school for a summer clerkship, and provide a real world legal experience to him or her. Conversely, students provide the employer with valuable legal support and a unique perspective.
In the first year of the program, the interest shown by employers and students far exceeded our expectations. Twenty-four employers signed on - far greater than the original 15 employers we sought - and nearly 70 percent of eligible students applied. The top 24 students were accepted into the program and guaranteed a summer job with one of the employers. Each student then interviewed with all employers, after which point, the students and employers ranked each other and matches were created. In the end, 24 employment matches were created for what we hope to be an enriching experience this summer for both student and employer participants.
It was a lot of work, but it was fun ... We’ve gotten such great support and interest. It’s been nothing but a success so far.
You have also done a lot of work on the Class Action program. Can you tell me about that?
That’s a recent collaboration between the Minneapolis Public Schools, Achieve!Minneapolis, the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Twin Cities legal community. It’s designed to educate Minneapolis high school students about making positive and healthy life choices, while exposing students to legal professionals in a positive light.
The program includes a series of separate civil trials involving issues of drinking and driving, date rape, athletics and alcohol, all of which culminate in a mock trial for which students have prepared and in which they themselves serve as lawyers, judge and jury. This is a different program than the traditional mock trial teams because it’s part of the school’s health curriculum and every high school student participates in it. We have worked to recruit dozens of volunteers — including attorneys from private law firms, major corporations, and government agencies and law students — to serve as guest lecturers in every Minneapolis high school on the legal system and give a legal perspective on abuse of alcohol and other drugs. In addition, we teach students how to make an opening statement, how to appeal to the jury, how to pick the best facts for inclusion in our arguments and more. For many students, this is the first time they’ve actually ever met an attorney.
How did you end up becoming chair of the Diversity Committee?
It was a surprise (laughs). I’ve been told that I am the youngest one, but I don’t know if that’s true or not.
The co-chairs were stepping down and I was told by the staff liaison that my name had been put forth as to whether or not I would be interested in doing it. I thought they were a little bit crazy because I’d only been on the committee for less than a year. I think people get excited because I do have enthusiasm for the projects that I
take on. So they asked me and I accepted.
How do you find the time to be active in so many activities outside of your work?
I really think of it as a hobby. To me, it’s fun. It’s fun to run a diversity program and to meet 24 new friends and colleagues. It’s really satisfying. It takes longer days, but it’s fulfilling.
Why is it important for young lawyers to be involved in activities outside of their law practice?
I think it’s about satisfaction. I don’t understand how you can have work satisfaction if you are just writing up legal memos.
I don’t know how people can’t get involved — I can’t even fathom it.
Related Links