Native American Heritage Month

November 8, 2023

Please note that, due to the holidays, there will be no 11/22/23 issue of the Diversity News Digest. The newsletter will resume on 11/29/23.

On the Need for Equity in America

Corporate Commitment to DEI: Where It Stands Today

DATA & METRICS   This report on recent shifts in the corporate DEI landscape shows that visible progress at the leadership level remains a critical factor in the perceived success of DEI initiatives.  PR Newswire

Mothers Still Face Disproportionate Burden in Legal Field

DEI SUPPORT   A new ABA study quantifies the disadvantages mothers face in the legal profession, from income and leadership gaps to disparities in quality assignments, sponsors, and mentors.  The National Law Journal

Men Who Champion Women Take to WIPL Stage, Ponder How to Make Their Advocacy the Norm

PERSONAL ADVOCACY   “It’s not top of mind for a lot of men to think about using their position and influence to affect the underrepresented and promote and advocate,” said Thompson Coburn partner Chris Hohn, a panelist at the event. “As leaders, we need to model that behavior.”  Corporate Counsel

DEI Support & Strategy

How Employers Can Embrace DEI Without Inviting Lawsuits

SYSTEMS & METRICS   The key to minimizing risk while promoting a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce is to expand opportunities, not limit them.   Corporate Counsel

DEI Professionals Bring Expertise and Results as Challenges Become Increasingly Complex

DEI SUPPORT & LEADERSHIP   From measuring results to meeting client expectations, here are several reasons why a dedicated DEI expert is crucial for creating sustainable forward progress in the legal profession.  Reuters

To Increase Workforce Diversity, Focus on These 10 Opportunities

DEI STRATEGY   This excerpt from behavioral and data scientist Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio’s new book, “Diversity Dividend,” offers 10 key ways to ensure talent with diverse backgrounds are “intentionally welcomed, integrated fully into the organization, and sustained.”  MIT Sloan School of Management

LCLD Leads on DEI

Meet the Winners of the 2023 California Legal Awards

DEI STRATEGY   We congratulate all of the LCLD Members, Alumni, and their firms honored this year, especially those recognized for Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion. In addition, Brian Donnelly of Farella and Sarah Solum of Freshfields were named Distinguished Leader finalists, and Paul Grewal of Coinbase was named an Attorney of the Year finalist.  The Recorder

‘Be Bold’: Hanson Bridgett’s DEI Chief on Why Firms Should Stand Their Ground

DEI STRATEGY   “Firms should study what is inhibiting diversity, equity, or belonging at their firm specifically.... Initiatives should be tailored to solve these specific obstacles, and bold enough to get at the root of the problem,” said 2015 Pathfinder Jennifer Martinez of Hanson Bridgett, named the winning firm for Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion by the California Legal Awards.  The Recorder

2023 NLJ Awards: Professional Excellence – DC Diversity Initiative

DEI SUPPORT   WilmerHale won the DC Diversity Initiative category, and all five finalists are LCLD Members: White & Case, Blank Rome, Greenberg Traurig, Latham & Watkins, and Mayer Brown.  The National Law Journal

Leading for Tomorrow

HBR Leadership Podcast | The Benefits of Career Sponsorship Go Both Ways

SPONSORSHIP   Explore how to choose the right protégé and build a relationship that lasts over the long term.  Harvard Business Review

The Key to Hybrid Mentorships (Hint: It’s the Same as It Always Was)

MENTORSHIP   “A mentor who reaches out, who seeks to understand the mentee, and who takes an active role in their life will be successful whether they are three feet or three thousand miles away.”  Forbes

for LCLD Members & Diversity Professionals

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 – JANUARY 10, 2024

Nominations Now Open for 2024 Fellows and Pathfinder Programs

Both programs are now accepting nominations through January 10, 2024.

Our Fellows and Pathfinder programs offer professional and personal development opportunities, leadership training, relationship-building resources, and an Alumni network 5,000+ strong.

DECEMBER 4 @ 12:00 PM ET  |  LCLD Community  |  virtual

Leaders at the Front: Diversity and the SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision, Part 2

Join LCLD as we continue the discussion around the impact of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision on the legal community and its DEI efforts.

A panel of legal experts led by David Schwartz, Global Head of the Labor & Employment Law Group at Skadden, will share advice and best practices around moving forward in this changing legal environment.

Stay connected with us!