LAS VEGAS – June 23, 2023 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has been awarded a Diversity Partner Medallion from the State Bar of Nevada through the organization’s program that recognizes the commitment that law firms and legal organizations have made to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in their practices.
“We want to thank the State Bar of Nevada for recognizing our efforts and for the opportunity to bring greater awareness to the need for a more diverse legal profession in service to clients, colleagues, and the communities in which we live and work,” Co-Managing Shareholder of the law firm’s Las Vegas office Michael J. Bonner said.
“We take our commitment to this city and this state very seriously, and that includes our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion on a local, and global scale,” Las Vegas office Co-Managing Shareholder Jim Mace added.
The State Bar of Nevada identified a variety of initiatives that qualify for the medallion. To earn the 2023 Partner in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion medallion, firms must attest to having completed at least five initiatives: Recruitment Practices, Retention Practices, Community and Pipeline Initiatives, Coaching and Training, and an Open category for firms to indicate additional programs and practices. Greenberg Traurig’s achievement was based on its affirmation of the following:
- Actively recruit diverse applicants through affinity bar associations.
- Follow the Mansfield Rule 5.0 by considering 30-50% of unrepresented talent for all leadership positions and the activities that lead to leadership. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Plus Certified, which means the firm went beyond simply considering talent to hiring talent meeting those criteria.
- Establish a summer internship program for law school students representing minority populations.
- Recruit from historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) law schools.
- Recruit from minority job fairs, such as the Southeastern Minority Job Fair or the Equal Justice Works Career Fair (public interest lawyers).
- Establish one or more committees focused on empowering women and minorities to advance into leadership positions.
- Celebrate historical milestones for minorities through guest speakers, catering traditional food from local eateries owned by diverse entrepreneurs, or hosting round table discussions on the significance of these days in the legal profession.
- Provide all new hires with a mentor (not a supervising attorney) responsible for encouraging participation in firm events and who can provide guidance about firm culture.
- Create “safe spaces” to discuss newsworthy events and actively listen to the perspectives shared by attorneys and staff from different backgrounds.
- Establish a formal training ‘academy’ for all new hires, introducing and spending time with each firm practice group, learning the firm culture, and outlining a path for advancement within the firm.
- Adopt flexible work arrangements, such as alternate work schedules and job shares, to address the diverse individual needs of attorneys and staff.
- Offer billable credit hours for participation in DEI activities within the office and in the community.
- Invest or actively participate in local school programs to promote law as a future profession (i.e., work study programs, school reading weeks, career days, etc.)
- Commit to serving as a high school mock trial coach at a school in an underserved community.
- Sponsor or participate in an affinity bar event, such as a social mixer, annual gala, or walk/run event.
- Participate in community clothing drives providing professional clothing for lawyers and staff, or other professionals in the community.
- Participate in an Ask-A-Lawyer event hosted through a legal aid provider.
- Take a pro bono case through a legal aid provider.
- Host coaching sessions/workshops on topics such as DEI awareness, recognizing unconscious bias, or having difficult conversations.
- Plus, the Production and Distribution of a Focused DEI Podcast, GT Drives: Dynamic Dialogues plus its Web Series, Courageous Conversations.
Greenberg Traurig’s commitment to the Las Vegas community reflects the firm’s strong tradition of service. Our attorneys hold leadership positions or are otherwise actively involved in community, industry and service organizations, such as the Vegas Chamber, Downtown Las Vegas Alliance, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Nevada Ballet Theatre, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Special Olympics of Nevada, Girls Scouts of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Golden Knights Advisory Council, UNLV Boyd School of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth and Variety Children's Charity of Southern Nevada, among others. The firm’s Las Vegas attorneys counsel clients in appellate, construction, corporate and securities, entertainment, gaming, intellectual property, litigation, and real estate matters. They are routinely ranked as leaders in their field and annually appear in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America®, Mountain States Super Lawyers, Mountain States Rising Stars, and, locally, Nevada Business Magazine and the Las Vegas Business Press.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firm’s efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Plus, administered by The Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 45 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI “Highly Recommended Law Firm” for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com