DIVERSITY and INCLUSION
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DIVERSITY and INCLUSION DRAWING STRENGTH FROM DIVERSITY AFFINITY GROUPS Year after year, Ropes & Gray ranks among the best U.S. Affi nity groups at Ropes & Gray play a vital role in enhancing fi rms in each of Vault’s diversity categories. As gratifying personal and professional development by bringing members as this recognition is, we know that the real rewards we together to share insights and experiences, as well as by promoting awareness and understanding throughout the fi rm. gain from our commitment to diversity and inclusion are a richer fi rm life, an enhanced ability to attract and retain a ROPES MULTICULTURAL GROUP advances highly talented workforce, a deeper understanding of our MCG FORUM the fi rm’s commitment to fostering an growing roster of clients around the world, and continuous ROPES & GRAY environment where individuals of diverse reinforcement of our own core values of excellence, backgrounds and identities succeed professionally, fully contribute to fi rm goals and are involved fairness, collaboration, and collegiality. in fi rm leadership. The group conducts quarterly meetings and holds special networking and mentoring events, and has established the Diversity Development Grant program to help diverse lawyers off set business development expenses. “Ropes & Gray is wonderful THE WOMEN’S FORUM off ers women about diversity with women, WOMEN’S FORUM attorneys a variety of educational, ROPES & GRAY professional development and network- minorities and LGBTQ.” ing opportunities. Women’s Forum —Associate, Vault programs have addressed topics ranging from networking and mentoring to marketing. In addition, the Women’s Forum promotes mentoring circles across the fi rm and organizes Notable DIVERSITY RECOGNITION events that provide opportunities for relationship building and development of essential career skills. The Women’s Forum n Consistently strong VAULT RANKINGS also off ers fi nancial grants that encourage women lawyers to n OVERALL DIVERSITY Top 3 for the past 7 years cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and seek out business n WOMEN Top 5 for the past 7 years development initiatives. n LGBT Top 3 for the past 7 years n MINORITIES Top 5 for 6 of the past 7 years LGBTQ FORUM Ropes & Gray’s work on LGBTQ FORUM the landmark 2015 U.S. Supreme Court n 10 consecutive 100 PERCENT CORPORATE EQUALITY marriage equality cases built on the INDEX scores for LGBT workplace policies ROPES & GRAY fi rm’s distinguished history of eff orts n “BEST MENTORING PROGRAM” at the 2014 toward marriage equality. We are committed to ensuring that Chambers Women in Law Awards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender attorneys feel welcome and succeed in the workplace with the support of the LGBTQ n Recognized for GENDER EQUITY in Yale Law Women’s Forum, whose members participate in the hiring process, act Top Ten Family Friendly Firms survey (2014, 2017) as resources for LGBTQ summer associates, and help to n Two consecutive THOMAS L. SAGER AWARDS from the identify and coordinate fi rm-sponsoredLGBTQ -related pro Minority Corporate Counsel Association bono matters. “Ropes & Gray has typically been in the vanguard of diversifying its workforce. ” —Associate, Vault FOCUSED PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS IN DIVERSITY (Partial List) Ropes & Gray offers several resources especially for diverse lawyers. n American Bar Association Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship n ACLU LGBT and AIDS Projects Ropes & Gray created the Roscoe Trimmier Jr. Diversity Scholarship to honor n the legacy of our first African American partner and a leader of the firm’s diversity Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area efforts. It awards $25,000 to five second-year law students to offset educational expenses and includes a paid summer associate position after completion of the n Asian American Lawyers second year of law school. Association of Massachusetts n Asian American Legal Defense Diane Patrick Attorney Advancement Fund and Education Fund Diane Patrick, a distinguished partner and passionate leader of Ropes & Gray’s n Asian Task Force Against diversity efforts, retired from the firm in December 2016. The firm established Domestic Violence the Diane Patrick Attorney Advancement Fund to honor her commitment n Bay Area Lawyers for Individual and support of diversity. The fund dedicates $25,000 annually to support the Freedom professional development of diverse associates through a practice group-led n nomination process. GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders n Lambda Legal Advocate Mentoring Program n Legal Outreach Ropes & Gray’s Advocate Mentoring Program pairs incoming diverse associates n with more senior lawyers who will advocate on their behalf to enhance career Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association development. As an advocate, mentors are expected to: n Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition n Offer career guidance n Provide work assignments that build skills and relationships n MassEquality Education Fund n Give timely feedback n Metropolitan Black Bar Association n Foster relationships between the mentee and other senior lawyers n National Asian Pacific American within and outside the practice group Bar Association n Promote opportunities to develop client relationships when possible n National Association of Women Judges n National Association of Women Lawyers DIVERSITY COMMITTEE CHAIRS n National Black Law Students Association n Leslie Spencer Joan McPhee North American South Asian Diversity Committee Co-Chair Diversity Committee Co-Chair Bar Association n Women’s Bar Association n Women’s Bar Foundation 18_0151_0322.