 |
At Boult Cummings, we recognize that a commitment to diversity is not just a passive ideal, but an active goal. We are committed to building a workforce comprised of a variety of backgrounds, experiences, ideas and perspectives, and that reflects the population we serve. We are committed to providing a workplace that is open and respectful, and values the different talents, ideas, expertise and contributions that each individual brings to the table.
To ensure our continued focus on and development of our diversity goals, we chartered a Diversity Committee charged with promoting diversity within the firm and educating our workforce on the firm's diversity policies and objectives. The firm has adopted a Diversity Plan that outlines our goals over the next few years and details how we intend to accomplish these goals. Developed with the assistance of Dr. Arin N. Reeves, a nationally-known consultant on diversity within the legal profession, our specific Diversity Plan initiatives include:
-
A recruiting initiative - focusing on practical methods for increasing our overall diversity.
-
A retention initiative - mentoring associate attorneys and retaining a talented and diverse workforce.
-
A leadership initiative - implementing strategies that recognize that the leadership of our firm should not only be educated about diversity, but should reflect diversity.
-
A communications initiative - making diversity awareness a regular agenda item for our Board, and providing Diversity Committee liaisons to serve on the firm's internal committees to help ensure that diversity is considered in all levels of decision-making within the firm.
-
An accountability initiative - recognizing that a commitment is meaningless without action and requiring regular evaluation of our progress.
We also created an external advisory board comprised of clients, community leaders, law school representatives and alumni of the firm to provide counsel to the firm in connection with diversity issues and to ensure accountability to the Plan. Our external advisory board meets regularly with the Diversity Committee and other firm leaders to help evaluate and advise the firm on our progress.
In addition to the Diversity Plan, our commitment to diversity is reflected through the firm's support of professional and community organizations that advance diversity. Many of our attorneys actively participate in and serve on boards of a variety of organizations, including the Nashville Minority Business Center, the Napier-Looby Bar Association, Fisk University, the Lawyers' Association for Women, Marion Griffin Chapter, and the Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women. Each year we participate as a sponsor of the Nashville Bar Association's Minority Opportunities Program, which offers summer internships for area minority high school students to help educate those students about the many opportunities available in the legal profession. During 2008, the firm was pleased to sponsor a number of local events, including Lipscomb University's "Law Camp," by providing two minority scholarships to ensure that interested students could participate in this program geared at educating high school students from around the country about the legal profession, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition American Dream Banquet, and the theatrical production "The Women Lawyers Club," presented by the Nashville Bar Association.
Our employees are active members of the communities in which they live and work, participating in a wide variety of programs that range from supporting the Nashville Chamber Orchestra's efforts in music education to Habitat for Humanity's building of affordable housing. Our attorneys also provide pro bono legal work to low income and disadvantaged individuals, families and nonprofit organizations. As a signatory to the Pro Bono Institute's Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge, we instituted a formal policy encouraging each attorney to provide a minimum of 60 hours of pro bono work on an annual basis. We encourage involvement and support our attorneys in their community endeavors, not only to further their own personal and professional development, but also because we believe that the success and advancement of our firm depends upon it.
The benefits of diversity in the workplace guide us in continually evaluating our progress, identifying areas for improvement and creatively addressing obstacles we may encounter along the way. Our commitment to diversity parallels our commitment to meeting the highest standards of legal excellence, exceptional service and innovation for our clients.
|
|
|