Diversity at Proskauer
Diversity is a
core value and
a fundamental
element of
our culture and
our history.
As a firm, as professionals, and as individuals, we benefit from the breadth of views and the unique
contributions that a diverse workforce brings to our organization. The insight gained from this collaborative
approach propels us to fresh perspectives and creative solutions in the service of our clients.
We fully understand that our commitment to diversity is essential to our commitment to excellence.
Our dedication to this principle is reflected not only in how we embrace the diversity of the people of
Proskauer, but also in the long-standing support we have given to the communities in which we live
and work through our strong pro bono program.
We are committed to creating a work environment and culture that embraces our core values of
teamwork, respect, professional integrity and diversity. We understand that a diverse workforce
enables the firm to offer the highest quality of service to our clients by affording them the benefits of
different and unique perspectives and approaches to legal issues. We actively recruit candidates
from a diverse pool of applicants in order to maintain and enrich a collective workforce that is
reflective of a broad range of ideas and talent. Hiring, retaining and promoting diverse professionals
allow us to be a top-tier firm, making us a better and more attractive place to work.
Diversity Committee and Affinity Groups
Though Proskauer has had a commitment to diversity throughout its existence, the firm’s formal
diversity program dates back to 2001, when our diversity committee was formed and charged with
developing and maintaining programs and policies that advance the goals of diversity and inclusion.
These initial efforts included more focused training, professional development and retention and
promotion strategies for our diverse lawyers. Among the many initiatives the committee implemented
was the creation of our seven affinity groups that has emerged as a cornerstone of our diversity
program. Our lawyer affinity groups provide a forum for their members to participate in and benefit
from speaking engagements, community service activities, networking opportunities, pro bono work
and more. The firm currently sponsors the following affinity groups:
Asian Lawyer Affinity Group
LGBT Affinity Group
Black Lawyer Affinity Group
Religious Observers Affinity Group
Flex-Time Lawyer Affinity Group
Women’s Alliance
Hispanic/Latino Lawyer Affinity Group
The firm is committed to ensuring that both time and attention are paid to our goal of attaining equal
opportunity and diversity in the practice of law. We have enhanced our efforts by forming a national
diversity committee comprised of representatives from many of the firm's offices. This committee
functions like no other in the firm, in that it is comprised of Partners, Senior Counsel, Associates and
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Diversity is the commitment we all share.
other professionals that lend their unique perspectives in conceiving and implementing our diversity-related programs
and initiatives. This range of membership allows for the continual review of progress, including evaluations of statistics
and demographics.
Our Diversity Committee meets on a monthly basis to work on a variety of events and projects to further the firm’s diversity
efforts, including affinity group sponsored CLE programs, professional development workshops, social and networking
programs, Heritage Month celebrations and more.
Staff and Resources
Proskauer has a full-time diversity staff that is comprised of the Director of Diversity and Diversity Coordinator. There are also
additional members of the firm’s Professional Resources Department that allocate a percentage of their time to the diversity
function in the firm. In addition, the firmwide Diversity Committee is co-chaired by two Partners.
Flex-Time at Proskauer
For years, Proskauer has had a successful flex-time program, even garnering national attention in the 1980s for an innovative
“family friendly” work schedule option that was among the first of its kind in the law firm industry. Stemming from this early
commitment, the firm has endeavored to maintain a leading flex-time program for its lawyers. First, Proskauer’s Flex-Time
program is truly flexible, allowing lawyers to choose their own percentage, rather than choose from a pre-determined list of
options. Secondly, a lawyer’s prospects to become a partner are not diminished due to being on flex-time, though the timing
for consideration may be extended. Moreover, since 2001, the firm has sponsored an affinity group dedicated to providing
support to lawyers on a flex-time schedule, one of few such groups in the industry. The firm encourages this affinity group’s
participation in local organizations, such as Flex-Time Lawyers LLC and speaker events, and provides the group with a
budget and representation on the Diversity Committee and Associate Council.
The firm also has formalized its “on-ramp” and “off-ramp” options. For lawyers about to go on maternity leave, Proskauer
offers one-on-one consultation meetings with HR representatives to discuss benefits issues and answer questions, as well
as the opportunity to be paired with a lawyer who is also a parent, to provide advice or mentoring regarding work/life
balance. Upon returning to the firm after maternity leave, lawyers are able to utilize a reduced-hours schedule to gradually
adjust to balancing new demands with work. Also during the leave, lawyers have access to our Flex-Time Liaison for
advice on how to stay connected to work, if so desired, and what to do in preparation for their return. Many of these
practices were already used informally, but to encourage more participation we formalized and publicized these options
and resources internally.
Proskauer currently has more than 30 lawyers on a reduced hours schedule, including Associates, Senior Counsel and
Partners from a majority of our national offices. In furtherance of our goal to make the Flex-Time program successful, the firm
has committed the time and resources to monitoring the outcomes and workflow of flex-time lawyers. We now track all
relevant information for flex-time lawyers (including hours billed, percentage, annualized hours and more) on a monthly basis
and disseminate it to all office heads, department chairs and department legal directors. This ensures that all relevant leaders
are aware of hours and workflow of their flex-time lawyers. If patterns emerge that show a lawyer’s percentage arrangement
is not being respected, or if there is any other issue, we know right away and can address the situation quickly.
Our Flex-Time Program is a crucial part of our efforts to foster an office environment and a work experience that is rewarding
for all of our lawyers. It is in the firm’s best interests to nurture and develop the best and the brightest talents among us
and keep them as part of our team. Of course, the best indicator of the program’s success is provided by the lawyers who
are thriving in their careers and personal lives through their participation. The more time we spend overseeing the Flex-Time
Program, the more we see that a vibrant alternative work program is an essential component of a successful law firm.
Mentoring
Proskauer has both formal and informal mentoring programs. While we believe that it is important to provide structured
guidance to our junior associates as they begin their legal careers, we also believe that those mentoring relationships which
form organically can foster effective results, both in legal work and in career development. Part of our diversity initiative has
been to offer informal mentoring opportunities as one way to provide our lawyers of color, and our women and LGBT lawyers
with guidance, additional resources and opportunities for continued success at our firm.
Pipeline Programs
Proskauer is a proud supporter of the Sponsors for Educational Opportunities (SEO) program, which recruits talented
college students of color and prepares them for careers in law by providing them with high-level internships and a demanding
pre-law school prep course to acclimate them to the law school learning environment.
Proskauer also partners with the Boston Lawyers Group, a consortium of law firms and corporations dedicated to
developing initiatives with law schools, student organizations and bar associations in order to promote diverse legal talent
in the Boston community.
We have established a relationship with the Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, a high school for students
interested in pursuing a career in law. We offer several different programs designed to get students excited about college
and consider law school. These programs include: Career Day, Law Day, shadowing opportunities and a mentoring program.
The firm also actively supports the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) in Los Angeles, which is dedicated to educating
middle and high school students about the importance of civic participation in society. Our Partners are active in several of
CRF’s programs, including a Mock Trial program, an internship program, and in-class lessons and demonstrations that bring
various legal topics to life.
For students who are currently in law school or newly practicing attorneys, Proskauer supports the Practicing Attorneys for
Law Students (PALS) program in New York which aims to mentor minority law students and early career attorneys by
providing them with practical advice on résumé writing, interviewing skills, being a successful Summer Associate, and other
important skills to augment the training they receive at their employer and law school.
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)
Proskauer is a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), a truly unique and innovative organization of
corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners dedicated to creating a truly diverse legal profession. Proskauer
is excited and proud to be an LCLD member firm, and we are participating in two important programs through LCLD: (1) the
LCLD Fellows Program, which is designed to increase diversity at the leadership levels of both law firms and corporate legal
departments; and (2) the 1L LCLD Scholars Program, which is a pipeline program designed to expand the number of
opportunities for diverse law students.
Diversity Awards and Honors
Proskauer participates in numerous diversity surveys and questionnaires throughout the year in order
to assess our progress both qualitatively and quantitatively. This feedback allows us to create internal
benchmarks for success and provide a platform for us to note our best practices and learn from our peers.
Proskauer scored 100% and was named one of the country’s “Best Places To Work” for two
consecutive years on the Corporate Equality Index, a survey distributed by the Human Rights Campaign
Foundation, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.
For more information about
Proskauer’s diversity efforts,
please contact:
Peter Wilson, Jr.
Director of Diversity
212.969.5042
[email protected]
Proskauer also was recognized as a “Top 10 Family Friendly Firm” by the Yale Law Women Committee,
and for two consecutive years was named to Multicultural Law Magazine’s “Top 100 Law Firms for
Diversity” listing.
Diversity is our Business
Proskauer’s Diversity Initiative is part of the firm’s overall strategic plan, and is communicated through
various methods and channels, including: Partners’ Retreats, Executive Committee meetings, formal
training programs, Town Hall meetings, special events open to clients and guests, Legal Directors
meetings, public support (financial and other) of various diversity-related organizations, pro bono work,
Heritage Month observances, internal and external website, e-mail updates and announcements, our
intranet, and the diversity brochure and newsletters.
The firm emphasizes qualitative measures in diversity progress as well, including support of diversity
events and affinity groups by Partners and Senior Counsel, mentoring initiatives, staffing decisions,
recruiting policies and practices, publicizing achievements of women, LGBT associates, and
associates of color, staying informed of new ideas and developments in diversity by speaking at or
participating in various diversity panels and conferences, and promoting an overall environment of
inclusion. We have also tasked the members of our Diversity Committee with creating and
implementing a strategic plan with tangible benchmark objectives, including best practice policies and
initiatives, mission statements pertaining to the interest and goals of each affinity group and their
members, and quantitative ways to measure that success.
Proskauer and the Legal Community
Proskauer lawyers play active roles in important civic, philanthropic and professional organizations,
with our lawyers often holding significant leadership positions. This tradition dates back to the founding
of the firm in 1875 and continues today as our lawyers and staff serve their communities in a wide
variety of significant ways.
Our lawyers participate in numerous panels, discussions and forums that promote diversity in the
workplace. In addition, we provide sponsorship and support to several organizations and events
throughout the year that embrace diversity as a core value of the profession, including, but not limited
to: Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, National Black Law Students Association,
Hispanic National Bar Association, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, Corporate Counsel Women of Color,
National Association of Women Lawyers, LeGaL, North American South Asian Law Student
Association and numerous City and State Bar organizations. It is our policy to develop and conduct
programs, both internally and externally, by engaging in activities that generally support diversity in the
legal profession. We believe that by producing opportunities for one another to learn, discuss, and
debate issues relating to our community, we will enhance our firm culture and the experiences of the
professionals that join the Proskauer family.
GreenSpacesTM is our firm-wide initiative to create a culture of environmental awareness, responsibility and social consciousness that
supports a productive and sustainable workplace.
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