After months of COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked protests and discussions regarding racial inequality across the U.S. and other countries.  

In response, many organizations, including law firms, issued statements voicing support for diversity and inclusion. However, some questioned the sincerity of those inclusion statements given historical hostilities and the nearly stagnant hiring and promotion of African Americans.

In an effort to show a commitment to fostering diversity, law firms and companies are declaring June 19 a holiday to observe Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of U.S. slavery.

Multiple legal tech companies are also following suit. While legal tech companies say their companies have previously encouraged diversity, recent protests and dialogues have caused some to commemorate Juneteenth as a sign of solidarity and movement toward change.

"This day [Juneteenth] matters to our organization because Black people matter to us," said Ryan Gerhardy, CEO and co-founder of automated data management provider Pitchly. "We observe Memorial Day and other days on the calendar, and we wanted this to be a particular change to reflect each year when it's not top of mind."

Pitchly, like other legal tech companies designating Juneteenth a holiday, suggests employees use the paid day off to reflect on actions that can foster inclusion and frank discussions.

But legal tech companies are also following up the holiday with tangible goals and actions. Pitchly, for example, will leverage recruiters and advertisements to broaden its hiring pool to more diverse applicants and provide volunteer services, Gerhardy said. Additionally, the company will make annual donations to the NAACP and the nonprofit organization Black Girls Code.

The initiatives are spread across almost each business quarter as a reminder to the company to continue its efforts and measure its success, Gerhardy explained.

"This is a top-of-mind issue for our organization, because doing it one time won't contribute to the solution and we want to contribute to the solution," he said.

Pitchly was also joined by document technology company Litera Corp., who likewise declared Juneteenth a company holiday.

In a post on the company's LinkedIn page, Litera CEO Avaneesh Marwaha wrote the company donated to the Black Lives Matter organization and highlighted the April launch of its diversity and inclusion team. Citing previous critical periods that led to desegregation and equal voting rights, Marwaha wrote, "This moment must continue loudly for us to realize the next monumental shift of acceptance, tolerance and equality."

Indeed, many legal tech companies recognized a movement is occurring, which they want their organization to be a part of.

"We believe it is the right thing to do," said ContactEase president Jennifer Whittier, who announced the company is also closing its office in honor of Juneteenth. "I don't want it to be perceived as the politically correct thing to do. I think our country is in an ongoing movement and we want to be part of it." 

To be sure, none of the companies contacted by Legaltech News said they faced any backlash after designating Juneteenth a holiday. However, seeing law firms announce similar commitments reinforced Intapp Inc.'s decision to close all offices and services June 19, said Intapp president Dan Tacone. 

More firms following suit does make a vendor's decision-making more practical, Whittier noted.

If legal tech companies are closed for Juneteenth but law firms aren't, vendors may be concerned we won't be able to respond to their needs," she said. But if everyone is closed on Juneteenth, "that does certainly help in a business decision, but on a personal level I'm really happy to see them take that next step, regardless of their motives."

NQueue president and CEO Richard Hellers also weighed risk-reward before designating Juneteenth a holiday at his company. Hellers said Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect on how to improve equality and to continue improvements.

"Regardless of what space you're in, you should step up," Hellers said. "Equal justice under the law is what the U.S. legal system is based on, but yet we fail to live up to that creed. Now is that time to make that happen or begin making the steps to make that happen."

And law firms, lawyers and legal tech vendors should be a part of that change, Hellers said. "The legal industry should lead this effort given what we're talking about is equal justice under the law. It seems like a pretty obvious place to begin."