Steps Forward
…the fact that something is a challenge should never become an excuse for not trying or failing to ask for help.
I spend a lot of time on the road. In fact, during 2004, I made 39 out of town trips to speak about diversity or meet with attorneys from corporations and law firms to share perspectives on a variety of diversity topics. Those trips were in addition to six local meetings about diversity programs with law firms or corporations. As a result of being out and about so frequently, I believe my job offers the very best bird’s eye view in the legal profession on the topic of diversity.
In my travels, I’ve heard a number of recurring themes. In this issue of the magazine, MCCA® attempts to address at least two of them.
First, many smaller to mid-sized law firms have expressed frustration as they try to jump-start their diversity efforts and compete for diverse talent. In my opinion, smaller firms offer a richness of opportunity for diverse lawyers to find a place, receive hands-on experience, get to know their colleagues, and establish mentoring relationships. Although it is admittedly more challenging, many are balancing diversity outreach on top of all of their competing demands, and meeting with some success as a result. So we asked several leaders at smaller to mid-sized law firms to share their approaches. Their stories are insightful and encouraging.
Second, lawyers in firms of all sizes tell me that it is more difficult to recruit diverse talent outside of the major, urban cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or Washington, DC. However, the fact that something is a challenge should never become an excuse for not trying or failing to ask for help. I have been impressed by a number of regional diversity efforts spearheaded by law firms deciding to come together and work collectively to advance diversity in their local bar community. One stand-out effort is a program that’s underway in one of America’s heartland cities, Columbus, Ohio. I believe our readers will be inspired after taking a closer look at what they have been doing and how it’s working. Perhaps so inspired that they will undertake similar efforts in their local communities.
In closing, I want to add that MCCA has been busy this summer. We’ve been preparing what promises to be our best fall conference ever and hope that in addition to marking the date of November 2, you’ll check out the program agenda that starts on page 75, and register early. We are also working on a ground-breaking research report on diversity initiatives at top U.S. corporations that will be unveiled this fall on November 2. The 2006 edition of the Vault/MCCA Guide to Law Firm Diversity Programs is in production and we have newly teamed with LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell to give the information greater visibility.
And, on top of all of these projects, MCCA has been on the move again-quite literally, in fact. MCCA’s offices have relocated to 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 and we thank the law firm of Morgan Lewis & Bockius for its generosity in hosting us. Please be sure to note the new address and let us know how we can continue to serve your professional needs.
Veta T. Richardson
From the July/August 2005 issue of Diversity & The Bar®