Bay Area Urban Debate League
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Champions of Diversity Challenge

​Engaging the Bay Area legal community to support a crucial intervention in the legal pipeline: a debate program that trains hundreds of underserved youth to research, prepare briefs, and advocate positions on complex policy issues.
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We want to thank everyone for making the 2024 Champions of Diversity a resounding success.
​While we want to thank all our competing law firms, we want to shout out our winners!!
1st Place:
O'Melveny & Myers
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2nd Place:
MoFo (Morrison Foerster)
3rd Place:
Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP
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Additional competitors include: 
Alto Litigation | Fox Rothschild LLP | Munger, Tolles & Olson | Boies Schiller Flexner LLP

We invite you to join us next year. Contact [email protected] if you are—or know of—an interested firm.

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE?

The challenge is a 1-week fundraising push, with all proceeds supporting Bay Area youth through BAUDL's debate programming. The 2022 Champions of Diversity (COD) campaign will run April 4 - April 8th. This is a great opportunity for your firm to help diversify the legal profession.

Firms are split into two divisions:
Elite Division, firms with less than 60 Bay Area attorneys
Grand Division, firms with 60+ Bay Area attorneys.

Each division will be won by the firm with the highest combined rank of total funds raised and funds raised per attorney, giving all firms a chance at glory no matter their size. 

READY TO GET INVOLVED? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

  • Let us know that you're interested. We'll answer any questions and get you ready
  • Select a firm captain to head up the challenge
  • Schedule a planning call with BAUDL staff and attend the campaign kickoff celebration
  • Get the message out before and during the campaign week
  • Track your firm's progress
  • Help spread gratitude & appreciation!

WHY URBAN DEBATE?

It's a Necessity! The legal field is getting less diverse. Check out the NALP's January 2016 Report

Debate works! It builds the skills and desire to be a successful attorney - Forbes, Do Debaters Make Better Lawyers?

50 law school deans and professors agree that urban debate leagues build a larger pipeline of students interested in law. Law school statement of support
​Debate taught me skills in analysis, research and public speaking. Debaters spend a year intensively researching a complex topic and developing sophisticated arguments about it. Debate also teaches invaluable life lessons, perhaps most profoundly about dealing with victory and defeat…Not a day goes by that I do not use the skills and lessons I learned in debate in my teaching, my writing and my advocacy in courts. The problem, though, is that debate programs require money, for coaches and for attending and organizing tournaments. Financially strapped inner-city schools rarely have been able to provide these resources… Urban Debate Leagues were created to rectify this."

- Erwin Chemerinsky

FIRM PARTICIPATION

We are excited to host the 8th annual, Champions of Diversity challenge this year!
The firms shown below have already joined the challenge and are ready to make a difference!
Interested in Joining? Let Us Know!

CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY WINNERS & PARTICIPANTS

Over 450 partners, associates, and staff from 18 Bay Area law firms came together to raise more than $140,000 for BAUDL programs! We are so grateful for the support of these firms. This investment makes a huge impact while opening up doors for Bay Area youth.

​GRAND CHAMPIONS

​Gold - O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Silver - Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Bronze - Baker & McKenzie LLP
Finalist - Morrison & Foerster LLP

ELITE CHAMPIONS

Gold - Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
Silver - Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger LLP
Bronze - Fox Rothschild LLP
​Finalist - Perkins Coie LLP
All Participating Firms:
Baker & McKenzie LLP, Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP, Durie Tangri LLP, Fox Rothschild LLP, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger LLP, Alto Litigation, Hanson Bridgett
​287 17th St #201, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
© Bay Area Urban Debate League. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Work
    • Our Team
  • Students
    • School Programs: Debate Activities
    • Summer Programs: Julia Burke Debate Institute (JBDI)
  • Coaches
  • Get Involved
  • Special Events
    • Champions of Diversity Challenge
    • Debate Showcase + Fundraiser
  • Donate
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