Promoting Diversity in the Legal Profession
Strategies for Hiring and Retaining Diverse Attorneys to Create an Inclusive Workplace
Recording of a 90-minute CLE teleconference with Q&A
Conducted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Recorded event now available
This seminar will provide guidance for law firms and corporate legal departments with regard to hiring and retaining diverse attorneys and strategies for implementing diversity programs for attorney staff.
Description
Progress toward diversity in the legal profession has been slow. There are still 44% more men than women in the profession, and only 15% of legal professionals are minorities. Law firms and general counsel at companies are addressing the challenge.
Many companies are demonstrating their commitment to diversity in their legal advisors. For example, in September, Microsoft announced it will use a "pay for performance" approach, under which it will pay law firms a bonus for demonstrating concrete diversity results.
What can law firms and corporate legal departments do to improve recruitment and retention of diverse attorneys? What are the best practices for firms and legal departments to implement diversity programs in order to create and build a more diverse legal profession?
Listen as our authoritative panel examines the issue of diversity among legal professionals. The panel will provide guidance for hiring and retaining diverse attorneys and strategies for firms and corporate legal departments to implement diversity programs.
Outline
- Legal landscape for diversity
- Diversity in the legal profession
- Issues raised by having diversity policies
- Best practices for recruiting/hiring diverse attorneys
- Recruiting minority attorneys
- Summer associates to new grads to lateral hires
- Replacing the diversity talent that is leaving
- Best practices for retaining diverse attorneys
- Mentoring programs
- Resources to assist diverse attorneys succeed
- Role of partners, general counsel
- Professional development opportunities
- Best practices for implementing diversity programs and creating a more diverse workplace
- How firms/legal departments are meeting diversity requirements
- Establish relationships and team building
- Data gathering and research
- Create the diversity plan
- Inclusion training for all attorneys
- Monitor and reevaluate plan and strategic goals
- Continue diversity dialogue/plan after training is complete
- Inclusive language in employment policies and benefits
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key questions:
- What can firms and legal departments do to improve recruitment of women and minorities?
- How can law firms and legal departments help overcome the barriers to a more diverse profession?
- What strategies should firms and legal departments use to retain diverse attorneys?
Faculty
Terri A. Mazur,
Partner
Mayer Brown, New York
She chairs the firm’s Women’s Initiatives Committee, which focuses on the retention, professional development, and advancement of women, and serves on the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. She litigates complex commercial disputes, particularly in the areas of antitrust and securities regulation.
Felix S. Lee,
Partner
Fenwick & West, Mountain View, Calif.
He chairs the firm's diversity committee. The firm is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse firms in the country and is noted for its unique approach to diversity and partner compensation. He also co-chairs the Bay Area Minority Summer Clerkship Program, which places diverse first year law students in paid clerkships. His practice focuses on securities and commercial litigation.
Joseph P. Sullivan,
Partner
Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman, Chicago
The firm is one of the nation's largest certified minority-owned law firms and has been recognized for its commitment to diversity and gender balance. He serves on the Defense Research Institute's committee on diversity. He focuses on the practice areas of mass tort, asbestos litigation, products liability, E&O and bad faith and trucking.
Ordering
Online CLE - Audio Recording
Includes audio streaming of full program plus handouts (available 24 hours after live seminar).
CLE:
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Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, MO, MT, TX*, VT, WA.
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Online CLE Audio $149.00
Available 24 hours after the live event
Recorded Event
Includes full event recording plus handouts (available after live seminar).
CLE: Pre-approved for self-study credit in: AK, AZ, CA, CT, HI, MO, MT, NY, TX*, VT, WA, WV. Upon request, self-study credit is also available in: CO, FL, GA, ID, KY, ME, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, OR, UT, WI, WY. If you are applying for self-study credit in one of these states, contact Strafford CLE at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 35 or CLE@straffordpub.com. (*Indicates that Strafford needs to process the CLE — see below to purchase this option.)
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Available 24 hours after the live event
CD $49.00
plus $9.45 S&H
Available ten business days after the live event
CLE Credit
Strafford seminars qualify for CLE credits in every state that accredits teleconferences. Please note that California, Virginia and Texas will not grant CLE credits for this seminar.
Customer Reviews
I thought the points to consider at the end of the presentation sparked good back and forth dialogue.
Van Hilderbrand
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
The program was very to the point — no fluff.
Brian McNamara
Wright Lindsey & Jennings
Very timely. I also liked the references to current and recent suits.
John Devlin
Lane Powell
I thought Strafford's program provided good information without being too lengthy.
Erin Aures
McCarter & English LLP
The question and answer session was one of the best I've attended.
Tricia Le Meur
Phillips Parker Orberson & Arnett
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