We Cannot Relent: The Need to Remain Resilient in Your Firm's DEI Efforts
The most recent threats to dismantle DEI in the United States are now aimed at the legal industry, but we cannot relent against these attacks and instead must remain resilient with our DEI efforts now and well into the future.
September 28, 2023 at 01:34 PM
9 minute read
DiversityAs a co-founder of three women-owned businesses, advocating and educating on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace has been an important part of my career over the last 13 years. Not only is it a passion of mine to help support and amplify underrepresented voices, but from a business owner's standpoint, it becomes a competitive advantage to have as many differing backgrounds and perspectives around the decision-making table. Working in the legal industry gives rise to many challenges when it comes to DEI in our firms and legal departments. Improving inclusion and belonging in the legal industry has not been without setbacks and roadblocks. However, we are now facing a new tidal wave aimed at broadening the distance we have traveled to improve DEI in our industry. In early August, my business partner and colleague, Francine Griesing, wrote an article titled "A Slippery Slope: The Erosion of DEI in the Legal Profession and Beyond" which discussed about three important diversity and inclusion initiatives happening in the United States. Her article focused on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision rendering unlawful use of affirmative action in education admissions decisions, the losses stemming from banned books, and the growing censorship of DEI initiatives—both at the private and public sector levels. As you will read below, the most recent threats to dismantle DEI in the United States are now aimed at the legal industry, but we cannot relent against these attacks and instead must remain resilient with our DEI efforts now and well into the future.
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