Diversity
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“Diversity at Bryan Cave means a professional home where people of all backgrounds and perspectives can achieve personal success and contribute meaningfully to the success of the firm. Diversity brings depth and richness to our individual professional experiences, binds us to the communities where we practice, and makes our firm a better place.”
- Don Lents, Chair of the Firm
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Diversity Committee
Bryan Cave’s Diversity Committee consists of 15 diverse partners from nearly all of our domestic offices and a variety of practice areas. The Committee includes several members of the firm’s Executive and Management Committees as well as the firm’s chief officers of human resources, recruiting and professional development, and marketing. Chaired by the Chief Diversity Officer, the Diversity Committee develops policies and programs that support the development and success of our women lawyers, lawyers of color and LGBT lawyers. The breadth of the Committee facilitates communication of our diversity efforts throughout the firm, and ensures that our initiatives are fully supported and integrated.
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“We undertake a variety of key initiatives to enhance the recruitment, development and advancement of lawyers who are women, of color, and openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. We look forward to continued progress in the future, not just for our firm but for the legal profession as a whole.”
- Lisa Demet Martin, Chief Diversity Officer |
Recruiting
We ensure that our recruiting committees are diverse and we provide diversity skills coaching for lawyers who interview on campus. We recruit at schools with diverse student populations, attend diversity job fairs throughout the country, participate in diversity clerkship programs, and support diversity pipeline initiatives.
Recently, we have participated in the following diversity job fairs and clerkship programs:
American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Program in Phoenix
Arizona Bar Diversity Legal Writing Program
Cook County Minority Job Fair
Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair
Howard University Annual Diversity Networking Event & Reception
Lavender Law Career Fair |
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LeGaL Annual Career Fair
New York City Bar Association Minority Fellowship Program
St. Louis Diversity Clerkship Program
St. Louis Diversity Job Fair
Southeastern Minority Job Fair
WALRAA's Diversity 8-Minute Networking & Reception |
NALP forms are available for many of Bryan Cave’s locations. Click on an office name below to learn more:
Bryan Cave Affinity Groups
A key component of our diversity initiative, Bryan Cave’s affinity groups are a resource to the lawyers who participate − fostering a sense of community and offering a variety of career development and networking opportunities. Our firm has three affinity groups: The Women’s Forum, Lawyers of Color and LGBT Lawyers. Led by partners who also serve on the Diversity Committee, the affinity groups sponsor programs to develop mentoring relationships, provide professional development opportunities and leadership training, and increase communication among lawyers. Visit our
Affinity Groups page to learn more.
Who We Are
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“I encourage other diverse lawyers to seek out commonality with the people they work with and not to avoid difference. By doing so, you discover openings you wouldn’t otherwise find. I’ve found that staying in your comfort zone does not lead to new opportunities.”
- Craig D. Jeffrey, Chicago |
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“Bryan Cave’s commitment to diversity has allowed me to focus on my career development, without worrying about whether I would be viewed differently because I am a woman. It is not an issue. Every lawyer has the opportunity to work on the “best” projects, and to take on as much responsibility as he or she shows the capacity to handle. We have many lawyers with diverse backgrounds, all of whom have successful, engaging careers, and who are there to provide advice when asked.”
- Erika Z. Schenk, St. Louis |
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