Accountability
Diversity is by definition integral to the practice of law at Locke Lord. The Firm has designed its diversity program to include a National Diversity Committee and Local Diversity Committees in each of our offices. National Committee membership includes a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors, the chairperson(s) of four key management committees (Associate Orientation and Development, Law School Recruiting Coordinating, Legal Personnel and Partnership Admissions, Marketing/Practice Development), representatives from each local committee and Directors of Diversity, Recruiting, Lateral Hiring and Human Resources. The National Committee serves as the hub of the Firm’s diversity management. Recognizing that our diversity goals need constant and full-time attention, we created and staffed the position of Director of Diversity. The Firm proactively sought and ultimately hired a lawyer experienced in creating and implementing diversity policy, and monitoring its legal ramifications in a large organization.
The Director’s responsibilities include policy and program development, advocacy, mentoring, training, associate professional development, business development, bridge building, monitoring recruiting and generally acting as the Firm’s ambassador in all diverse communities. The Director works in conjunction with Firm leadership to develop policies and procedures necessary to our continued growth as an inclusive, vibrant workplace for people with varied backgrounds.
Our diversity program has been memorialized in a Strategic Action Plan specifically tailored to the needs of the Firm by the Diversity Committee, our outside diversity consultants and Firm leadership. While primary responsibility for driving and monitoring diversity-related policy rests with the Director, all Firm standing committees and departments have been charged with incorporating the Diversity Department into existing activities. In so doing, Locke Lord has fashioned a trilogy of accountability for the Firm’s diversity: The Director of Diversity, Firm management and the Diversity Committee. We are joined by the partners, many of whom have volunteered to act as mentors to the firm’s diverse attorneys and actively work to foster an inclusive environment. Together, we accept the responsibility for sustaining and increasing the Firm’s diversity.