Recognizing that the new coronavirus has created roadblocks for diversity and inclusion efforts, Seyfarth Shaw has partnered with a number of in-house organizations and affinity bar associations to create The Belonging Project to bolster the careers of diverse attorneys.

"This is the time that we need to focus very specifically on diversity and inclusion so we don't lose ground while people are sheltering in place," Laura Maechtlen, co-chair of Seyfarth Shaw's National Diversity and Inclusion Action Team in San Francisco, said.

Kori Carew, chief inclusion and diversity officer at Seyfarth Shaw in Chicago, said in an interview Wednesday that many diversity and inclusion efforts involve physically meeting clients and traveling to different events to network. She said The Belonging Project is meant to be a resource for diverse attorneys and law students who want continuing legal education programs and mentoring. The Belonging Project will host webinars to diverse attorneys on networking, emotional intelligence and mock interviews.

"We need people thinking about how they can set themselves up for success," Carew said.

Carew and Maechtlen said it was important to include in-house counsel in The Belonging Project so that diverse attorneys can benefit from a variety of different experiences.

"This is meant to be a collaboration across industries," Maechtlen said. "We want to have a strong focus on law students who can benefit tremendously from hearing from in-house counsel."

Right now, in-house partners include the Association of Corporate Counsel's ACC Foundation, Minority Corporate Counsel Association and Corporate Counsel Women of Color.

"We are proud to be a part of this initiative, as it closely aligns with our own mission to support diversity and inclusion in the legal profession," Jennifer Chen, the director of the ACC Foundation in Washington, D.C., said in a prepared statement.

Laurie Robinson Haden, CEO and founder of CCWC in New York, said in an email she wanted to support diverse law students and continue to move the needle forward.

"This summer Corporate Counsel Women of Color will support diverse law students around America by connecting them with over 150+ mentor lawyers. Students need encouragement especially at this time when some of their summer opportunities have been diminished because of COVID-19," said Robinson Haden.

"Reaching across the aisle and bringing people together has never been more important than it is today," Jean Lee, president and CEO of MCCA in Washington, D.C., said in an email. "This is a great way to ensure that we do not lose the momentum we have built in the past few years and to ensure that 2008 recession's stories and challenges do not repeat themselves."

Maechtlen said the initiative is seeking additional partnerships from in-house attorneys. She added individual in-house attorneys can reach out to mentor diverse attorneys and law students or whole legal departments can sign on. Those who wish to partner with The Belonging Project do not have any financial obligations, Carew said.

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