NEW YORK, NY (February 17, 2021) Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, announced today a series of actions intended to renew the firm’s commitment to be a trailblazer in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) both internally and externally.
“Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has been a touchstone of the firm since its founding,” said Firm Chair Kevin Lauri. “We thought it was time to publicly re-emphasize our goals and the steps we are taking to achieve them, so our attorneys, staff, clients and peers understand the priority we are giving these efforts.”
Jackson Lewis, which recently received Mansfield Certification Plus, also renewed its membership in CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion. To date, more than 1,600 American CEOs have signed the CEO Action Pledge to support diversity in corporate America. Jackson Lewis was the first law firm to sign the CEO Action Pledge.
In summer 2020, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, the firm offered assistance to local and national civil rights organizations, including the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and the National NAACP. Jackson Lewis also joined the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance, pledging to leverage the resources of the private bar to amplify voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism.
“Understanding that it’s important to practice what we preach, we are accompanying the external steps we’re taking with internal infrastructure, training and recruitment enhancements in order to make sure we are deliberate in our goals, programs and initiatives to best support our people,” added Lauri.
The firm recently created a special DEI Core Committee from its Board of Directors. Led by Lauri, Firm Chair, the Committee is composed of four additional Jackson Lewis Board members — Firm Managing Principal Samantha Hoffman; Corporate Diversity Counseling Leader Weldon Latham; Berkeley Heights Principal Gregory Alvarez and Hartford Office Managing Principal Tanya Bovée. The Core Committee is supported in its efforts by Boston Office Managing Principal Jeffrey Brody, Detroit Principal Maurice Jenkins and Greenville Office Managing Principal Stephanie Lewis.
This group will report to the Chair on all DEI matters with input from Jackson Lewis’ full-time Director of DEI, Jana Simon. Simon will work with the DEI Committee to focus on the constant evolution of the firm’s strategic plan and help implement numerous DEI initiatives to address issues including recruiting, onboarding, developing, retaining and promoting diverse attorneys, in addition to other broader external attorney-led DEI commitments.
In addition, this February Jackson Lewis announced the launch of its DEI REACH program, developed in-house with contributions from several key leaders within the firm, is aimed at significantly enhancing representation of African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and other underrepresented groups in Jackson Lewis’ attorney headcount.
“We’re also partnering with several of our clients to make sure attorneys from underrepresented racial groups are handling their matters and spending time forming relationships with their legal teams,” said Hoffman. “This is just one of the ways we’re investing in the growth and development of our diverse attorneys, and we’re glad to work with clients who share our goal to expand the scope and breadth of available opportunities.”
This past summer, the firm participated in a major technology company’s blended in-house law firm summer clerk program aimed at improving access to in-house careers at tech companies by removing barriers for underrepresented talent in the legal industry. Jackson Lewis also participated in the National Bar Association – Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) Black Lawyers Matter Internship Program, designed to positively impact diversity in the legal profession, and plans to continue its participation.
“These efforts supplement actions the firm has been taking for years, including spearheading the Vincent A. Cino Scholarship program, which provides more than $150,000 in scholarships annually to students across the country who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession and wish to pursue a career in workplace law,” added Latham. “We also formalized and continue to promote unconscious bias education for all attorneys to foster understanding of how diverse individual experiences can strengthen the firm and its service to clients.”
The firm recently received a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s premier benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Jackson Lewis also received the Tipping the Scales Award as part of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance’s 2020 New Partner Report, among other accolades.
More information regarding the firm’s commitment to DEI can be found here.
About Jackson Lewis
Focused on labor and employment law since 1958, Jackson Lewis P.C.’s 950+ attorneys located in major cities nationwide consistently identify and respond to new ways workplace law intersects business. We help employers develop proactive strategies, strong policies and business-oriented solutions to cultivate high-functioning workforces that are engaged, stable and diverse, and share our clients' goals to emphasize inclusivity and respect for the contribution of every employee.
Additional information about the firm can be found at jacksonlewis.com.
For more information, please contact:
Lara Hamm, Chief Communications Officer
T: (267) 319-7803 / E: Lara.Hamm@jacksonlewis.com
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