(Please pass this forward to 2 and 3rd year law and lateral candidates.)

According to Claude Sheer, CEO of Vault.com., “The Vault/MCCA Legal Diversity Career Fair will offer a hands-on insider’s perspective of the progress that top firms are making to increase diversity and to advise minority, women and GLBT law students and associates on their legal career options.”

“MCCA is delighted to partner with Vault to offer this wonderful opportunity for organizations seeking to attract talented, diverse candidates and underscore their commitment to building more inclusive workplaces,” said Veta Richardson, Executive Director of MCCA.  “We are enthused that in the midst of a recovering economy, there is such enthusiasm around reaching out to highly-qualified, diverse talent.”

The Vault/MCCA Legal Diversity Career Fair will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with representatives of over 30 legal employers available to meet with candidates.  The event will kick off with a special breakfast where Vault will unveil its 2011 Law Firm Diversity Rankings, the result of its annual Law Firm Associate Survey.

Earlier this year, more than 15,000 law firm associates rated their employers on a variety of issues, including diversity with respect to minority, women and GLBT attorneys.  Vault representatives will be on hand to reveal these diversity rankings and honor the Top 20 law firms who were the most highly rated by their own associates for their commitment to hiring, retaining and promoting diverse attorneys.

“Vault’s diversity rankings are unique in that it is the law firm associates themselves who rate their employer’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.  Lawyers are a tough crowd; these firms have cleared a high bar,” noted Brian Dalton, Managing Editor at Vault.com.  “According to its own associates, the top firm ‘treats diversity as a priority’ and ‘is not simply following a trend’—and this is reflected in our rankings.”

Following breakfast, candidates will have the opportunity to meet and present their resumes to hiring partners and recruiters from top law firms, government agencies, and corporate law departments during recruiting hall hours, before and after lunch.  The career fair is designed for minority, female, GLBT, and candidates with disabilities.

In the midst of networking, candidates will have the opportunity to recharge during a keynote lunch featuring Carolyn B. Lamm, President of the American Bar Association.  President Lamm was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in America by The National Law Journal in 2007 and one of Washington’s Top 30 Lawyers by Washingtonian magazine in 2009.  She has worked tirelessly to ensure equal opportunities in law and will speak about her efforts, goals and outlook for the future of diversity in the legal profession.

Morgan Lewis is the Platinum Sponsor for the Legal Diversity Career Fair and lunch.  “As we gear up for entry-level hiring, sponsoring the Vault/MCCA Legal Diversity Career Fair is one of the ways we will continue to make diversity a priority at Morgan Lewis,” said Firm Chair Francis M. Milone. “Our goal is to attract entry level lawyers from diverse backgrounds who have the skills our clients most value, including hard work, responsiveness, problem solving ability, and a commitment to teamwork.”

The event will also offer opportunities for job seekers to obtain resume and cover letter review and advice from Vault Career Experts and access computer terminals to view Vault’s Career Insider and Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity Database, a fully-searchable online tool featuring comprehensive data on diversity performance at nearly 300 law firms nationwide.  Registration is still open at http://www.vault.com/legaldiversity.