August 7, 2024

On the Need for Equity in America

Despite Progress, Pay Equity Remains Elusive in In-House Legal Departments

TRANSPARENCY   Major, Lindsey & Africa’s latest Global In-House Compensation Survey reveals that female GCs and CLOs earn approximately 12 percent less than their male counterparts, with an even larger gap for minority women at 16 percent.  Corporate Counsel

Law Firms Have Abandoned Their Underrepresented Junior Attorneys

DIVERSE PIPELINE   Despite recruiting diverse talent, Big Law has seen greater attrition rates among its associate ranks for women and attorneys of color. Big Law firms committed to DEI must not only address these disparities but also establish inclusive development systems.  The American Lawyer

Groups Challenge Corporate DEI Initiatives with Recent Success

DEI SUPPORT   It’s no secret that DEI is under pressure — according to a Meltzer Center database, 109 federal cases efforts have been filed against workplace diversity initiatives since 2018. Here’s a look into some of the latest court cases.  Corporate Counsel

Three Challenges Facing Junior Female Associates

INCLUSIVE CULTURE   Associate Taylor Trusky highlights some of the challenges faced by women attorneys and underscores the importance of a supportive network of similarly situated female peers.  The Legal Intelligencer

DEI Support & Strategy

Why Dropping the E in DEI Is a Mistake

DEI SUPPORT   The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recently revised its DEI framework by removing “equity” in favor of “inclusion and diversity” (I&D) and is encouraging other leaders to follow suit. However, this shift to an inclusion-first model overlooks the importance of equity in the workplace. Here’s what organizations should do instead.  Harvard Business Review

4 Ways to Meaningfully Support New Mothers Returning to Work

DEI STRATEGY   Surveys from hundreds of working mothers highlight the four support mechanisms they value most when returning to work. The data also underscores that anyone can be an ally to postpartum mothers, whether it’s managers advocating for inclusive policies or coworkers checking in on their well-being.  Harvard Business Review

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment—and Even Fail—to Make DEI Advances

DEI STRATEGY   There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to DEI, so it’s key that organizations “consistently support innovation that aligns with company values and create a space that destigmatizes failure and encourages experimentation.”  Bloomberg Law

LCLD Leads on DEI

Corporate Counsel Announces Its 2024 Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards

INCLUSIVE CULTURE   2012 Fellow Kobi Kennedy Brinson, Partner at Winston & Strawn, and 2017 Fellow Shanon R. Stevenson, Partner at Fisher & Phillips, were honored as Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Champions in Corporate Counsel’s 2024 Women, Influence, & Power in Law Awards.  Corporate Counsel

They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 Honoree Marcus Childress

DEI SUPPORT   2020 Pathfinder Marcus Childress, Partner at Jenner & Block, was recently profiled for Bloomberg Law’s annual “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” list. “Since the [SFFA] decision was issued, I have been helping corporations, law firms, and non-profits navigate the evolving DEI landscape,” he said. “I was proud to be part of the team that defended a law firm in one of the first DEI challenges that the industry faced.  Bloomberg Law

Diversity Pros Hope Work Allocation Offers a Key to Building Inclusive Law Firms

WORK ALLOCATION   At last month’s Diversity Lab DEI Hackathon, over 100 lawyers teamed up to present innovative solutions for strengthening workplace DEI practices and equitable work allocation. Participants represented firms including Holland & Knight, K&L Gates, Orrick, and WilmerHale.  The American Lawyer

Leading for Tomorrow

Succession Is Inevitable—Good Succession Planning Is Not

SUCCESSION PLANNING   Mastering succession planning is no small task, but a well-defined strategy and timeline can make all the difference. David Wood, a retired senior partner from Barnes & Thornburg, outlines three steps firms should take to ensure long-term sustainability.  The American Lawyer

for LCLD Members & Diversity Professionals

AUGUST 14 @ 2:00 PM ET  |  Diversity Professionals  |  virtual

Diversity Professionals’ Virtual Meeting: August 2024

Join LCLD staff and your fellow Diversity Professionals for our third meeting of the year.

We’ll cover updates about 2024 LCLD programs and initiatives, as well as answer any questions you may have.

AUGUST 15  @ 2:00 PM ET  |  LCLD Members  |  virtual

Language of Leadership with April Miller Boise

Join LCLD for a candid conversation with April Miller Boise, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer at Intel Corporation. 

In this installment of LCLD President Robert Grey’s webinar series, Robert and April will discuss how leaders can use their personal commitments to DEI to drive change. Members are welcome to attend in person at Intel Corporation’s office in Santa Clara, CA.

Stay connected with us!