Parker McCay Rounds up School Supplies for Project Backpack

PROJECT BACKPACK: Attorneys and staff at Parker McCay's Mount Laurel office with some of the supplies gathered for the Center for Family Services' “Project Backpack.,” which donates school supplies to low-income families in the area. Shown, from left: Brian Berkoff, George Morris, Brian Caine, Shailynne Swain, John Rigden, Chris Schmalbach, John Krohn, Darlene Louden, Deanna Perez, Kiera McFadden-Roan, Margeaux Bernhard, Jaime Reynolds, Shannon Scott, Patrick Wesner and Jaqlyn Burckhardt.

Parker McCay conducted a school supplies drive to support the Center for Family Services' “Project Backpack.” Employees at Parker McCay's Mount Laurel office spent weeks rounding up new school supplies, including backpacks, notebooks, colored pencils, highlighters, and binders, to donate to area families in need. Organized through the firm's corporate social responsibility program, employees were invited to collect back-to-school items, and to participate in a denim day to raise additional funds. (Denim days are held once a month at the firm; employees are permitted to wear jeans to the office with a $5 donation). The combined supply drive and denim day resulted in the firm donating $500 to the nonprofit, according to a release. “We know that there's a gap between what low-income families can realistically afford and what children actually need to start the school year,” firm COO Carolyn Rutsky said in a statement. “It's rewarding to play a small part in preparing students for a great start to the new year. Our employees clearly enjoy having opportunities to support charities they care about.”

Archer Marks 20th Anniversary of Diversity Programs

ARCHER & GREINER CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF DIVERSITY: Shown, from left, the members of Archer's current Diversity Committee: Carlos Bollar ( Haddonfield, NJ office ), Stacey Sinclair (Archer COO, Haddonfield, NJ office ), Lloyd Freeman ( Haddonfield, NJ office), Debra Rosen ( Haddonfield, NJ office ), Carlton Johnson (Philadelphia office) , and Chris Gibson (Archer President, Haddonfield, NJ office).

Archer & Greiner held a celebration of the 20th anniversary of its diversity programs on July 18 at 3 Logan Square in Philadelphia. Among the attendees were Archer diversity scholarship recipients from the last 20 years, making a night of reunions with mentors and protégès, the firm said in a release.Firm Chief Diversity Officer and partner Lloyd Freeman discussed plans for the future. “This program has become a defining aspect of my career,” Freeman said in a statement. “From receiving a diversity scholarship during law school to now being the chair of the Diversity Committee, I've been able to promote diversity and inclusion within the legal profession in numerous ways. I am proud of the firm for its longstanding commitment to increasing the representation historically underrepresented groups in the practice of law.” The firm's initiatives include recruitment, retention and mentoring programs designed to enhance career opportunities for minority and female attorneys, the release said. Each year, the firm provides tuition support and summer associate employment to diverse law students from Temple University and Rutgers Law School.

Drinker Biddle's Florham Park Office Hosts NJ LEEP Interns

DRINKER BIDDLE HOSTS NJ LEEP INTERNS: Pictured (left to right): Larry Del Rossi, Drinker Biddle partner and NJ LEEP mentor; NJ LEEP intern Ahmaad Walker; NJ LEEP intern Rania Barkaoui; and Andrew Joseph, partner in charge of Drinker Biddle's Florham Park office and vice chair of the firm's litigation group.

Drinker Biddle & Reath's Florham Park office recently hosted two interns from New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project, Ahmaad Walker and Rania Barkaoui, as part of the firm's “Week-on-the-Job” summer program. The students spent the week of July 8 learning about the legal profession, working on various projects and touring the Bergen County Courthouse, the firm said in a release. Drinker Biddle said it is a proud supporter of NJ LEEP, a nonprofit college access and success program serving students and families in the greater Newark area.