The Champions award recognizes a law firm and in-house corporate counsel who have made measurable progress in the recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement to leadership positions of lawyers with disabilities.
Perkins Coie’s commitment to the inclusion of lawyers with disabilities in the legal profession is demonstrated by, among other things, its: creation of a Lawyers with Disabilities Affinity Group; participation in the IMPACT Career Fair for Law Students and Attorneys with Disabilities; hosting a disability diversity celebration for firm employees, clients and members of the community; professional development of the firm’s lawyers with disabilities; and activities aimed at encouraging high school and law students to pursue a legal career.
Microsoft Corporation, Legal and Corporate Affairs has demonstrated its commitment to disability diversity and inclusion through its establishment of a disability diversity team to drive inclusion of disability in its legal diversity efforts, creation of a disability toolkit to help Microsoft’s legal recruiters navigate disability and accommodation issues, and outreach to outside counsel on improving disability diversity and inclusion in their firms, among other diversity-related activities. It is an active member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, sponsors of the conference.
The mission of the ABA Commission on Disability Rights is to promote the ABA’s commitment to justice and the rule of law for people with mental, physical, and sensory disabilities and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession.