800-951-4888 x87-9284
william.kim@ropesgray.com

I was born in Korea and came to America in 1967 after finishing fourth grade. As I enrolled in fifth grade, I didn't even know the English alphabet and couldn't sign my own name. I still vividly remember my father's hand over mine as he guided me through my first "signature," to the school registry. Growing up in America as an Asian in the 60's and 70's was not easy. As I walked out of school at the end of my first day of school in America, I came face to face with prejudice, simply because I looked different.   This early experience has left an indelible impression on my young mind, which to this day reminds me of the everyday hardships and prejudice that people of color face in America. Of course, America has changed much in the past 40 years and so have I. America is now a place where I truly believe is my home. It is where my family and I are able to balance our American identity with our Korean heritage and feel proud to tell others that we are "Korean-Americans." But I am still constantly reminded that the struggle for equality for people like me is a daily one.   When choosing a law firm, it was therefore immensely important that the firm be very committed to the needs of its attorneys of color. At Ropes & Gray I am encouraged to celebrate my difference and given opportunities to encourage younger attorneys of color to celebrate and express their respective differences. This firm is not a melting-pot; it is a canvas full of mosaic pieces with distinct colors, differences and identities.

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