Since the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others, the nation has engaged in greater dialogue on racial injustice. Now, we're starting to see leaders in the legal profession, corporations and beyond respond with a push for greater inclusion.

Last month, two Washington, D.C., law firm leaders joined The National Law Journal Editor in Chief Lisa Helem to discuss the weighty conversations taking place on inequality. And this month, she continues the conversation, speaking with two African American women law firm leaders based in Washington D.C: Grace Speights, who leads the labor and employment practice at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and Tara Elliott, an intellectual property litigator at Latham & Watkins.

They discuss how they're speaking up and weighing in on the current landscape in discussions they're leading with their firms and clients. They also share their hopes for their children and their fears about them experiencing potential negative interactions with the police.

And they make the case for optimism in this historical moment.

"I hope that both those who are protesting in the street and those of us who in our own way are protesting within our organizations, pleading and requesting and even demanding that change occur, I hope we all keep up the momentum and keep the strength and keep going because collectively I believe that we can make change and this is the time to do it," Speights said.

Listen to the podcast above or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify or Libsyn.