Paul J. Polking
Partner
At Bank of America, diversity is a company-wide priority. Through years of practice, the organizationally designed approach has led to an innovative, inclusive environment. Its legal department uses this vision statement to guide its diversity practices: “The Bank of America legal department strives to create a diverse and inclusive meritocracy where opportunities are available to all employees commensurate with their performance in an environment that respects and builds on their differences.” This vision statement also drives the legal department’s Diversity Council, which is responsible for initiating and monitoring inclusive practices among its 240 attorneys in 22 offices.
The Diversity Council goes above and beyond a typical diversity committee in its scope and authority. Its four formal subgroups influence key areas of the legal department, including: associate development, teamwork and communications, recruiting and retention, and outside counsel. Through the Diversity Council’s efforts, more than 90 percent of attorneys have been through full-day inclusion training, and the company has established a goal of 15 percent for its discretionary spending with minority- and women-owned law firms.
This strategic approach to creating and achieving diversity objectives allows the department leadership to enhance the diversity program with their own objectives. General Counsel Paul Polking has focused on getting personally involved in accomplishing diversity goals by visiting minority bar associations, hiring minority summer interns, and implementing financial bonuses for all department members that recruit minority attorneys.
Polking’s personal commitment, coupled with an outstanding company-wide program, help Bank of America stay ahead of the pack.
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From the March 2002 issue of Diversity & The Bar®