Compiled for LCLD Members and the Board of Directors every Wednesday, this digest is designed to brief you on the latest headlines about LCLD Members and organizations, as well as thought-provoking articles on diversity in the legal profession, talent development, mentoring, and leadership. Past issues of the Digest are also archived on the LCLD web site.
If you have questions about the Digest, articles you'd like to share, or if you would like to subscribe, please email Communications Manager Caitlin Puffenberger at cpuffenberger@lcldnet.com.
1. A Chat with Ballard Spahr’s Diversity Chief
“Ten years ago, our major legal practice areas were led exclusively by white men. Today, 40% are led by women and partners of color,” says Virginia Essandoh, Chief Diversity Officer at LCLD Member firm Ballard Spahr. Law360
2. Baker McKenzie Sets Six-Year Target for Gender Diversity
LCLD Member firm Baker McKenzie has set itself a 40:40:20 goal for partners, senior business professionals, and firm committee leadership—40% women, 40% men, and 20% “flexible,” meaning women, men, and non-binary people. Law.com
3. Cozen O’Connor Encourages Attorneys to Use Preferred Pronouns in Show of Solidarity
Inspired by a summer associate, LCLD Member firm Cozen O’Connor is encouraging attorneys to include their preferred pronouns in their email signature blocks. The American Lawyer
4. Do Your Diversity Efforts Reflect the Experiences of Women of Color?
To be truly inclusive, organizations need to be intentional about including women of color in data initiatives, employee resource groups, implicit bias training, and diversity goals. Harvard Business Review
5. The Surprising Benefits of Sponsoring Others at Work
To make the most of a sponsorship relationship, seek out proteges with skills, knowledge, and perspectives that differ from your own, says Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Founder of the Center for Talent Innovation. Harvard Business Review
6. Women Score Higher Than Men in Most Leadership Skills
Women are vastly under-represented in senior leadership roles, yet in a recent analysis of thousands of 360-degree reviews, women outscored men on 17 of 19 critical leadership capabilities. Harvard Business Review
