|
The Philadelphia Diversity Law Group held a conference titled “Diverse Lawyers - Don’t Let Them Get Away,” on Friday, October 21, 2005. The program focused on retaining lawyers from diverse backgrounds in the Greater Philadelphia area. Key decision makers at large area law firms and major corporate law departments attended to hear presentations and engage in a dialogue on this critical topic.
Samuel M. Reeves, associate general counsel of Wal-Mart, was the keynote luncheon speaker, and Verna Myers, a nationally recognized consultant to attorneys on diversity issues who also holds a law degree from Harvard, served as the conference facilitator.
Enhanced recruiting and hiring efforts have increased the number of attorneys from diverse backgrounds hired by large law firms and corporate law departments. However, both regional and national statistics indicate that the longevity of these attorneys at the firms is not sufficient to create a growing pool of senior attorneys and diverse partners. The conference focused on the factors contributing to this lack of longevity and explore possible solutions, concentrating on practical and pragmatic measures.
The Philadelphia Diversity Law Group is a not-for-profit corporation ganized in 2001 to promote diversity in the practice of law, particularly in the Greater Philadelphia area.
|