The Chicago Office diversity committee meets monthly in furtherance of implementing our 4-part diversity agenda: recruitment, retention, promotion and leadership. The committee includes partners, associates and staff members, many of whom are diverse, as well as representatives from the largest practice groups. Several members of the committee also serve on the firm-wide diversity committee.

The committee acts proactively at the local level to keep the firm’s diversity agenda in the forefront, anticipate and identify any issues related to diverse attorneys and staff members that may arise, and preempt or allay concerns about diversity issues.

The Chicago office diversity committee has undertaken a number of initiatives, including starting a formal mentoring program in the Chicago office, and conducting, with the Legal Development Committee, an office-wide informal “associate feedback week” which encouraged each associate and the partners he or she works with to communicate about the associate’s work and career development outside the constraints of the formal review process.

In addition, committee members host informal social events in their homes and have inaugurated a monthly bag lunch meeting for attorneys of color.