On March 23, 2021, the Solo & Small Firm committee hosted our first Quarterly Catchup Call of the year. The focus of this call was diversity and inclusion within the legal industry. The discussion surrounded diversity certifications for attorneys including among others, women, minority, and LGBT business enterprise certifications.
Attorneys benefit from obtaining these certifications because the certifying organizations often offer a variety of educational events and referral opportunities. Specifically, after obtaining certifications law firms may also be eligible to join legal industry diversity organizations like the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).
Representatives from Goosmann Law Firm, a NAMWOLF firm, discussed the opportunities that have been presented through NAMWOLF membership. This includes better access to a community of women and minority owned firms and access to larger companies who support the diversity and inclusion initiative by committing a certain percentage of their legal spend to work performed by diverse firms. Firms who may qualify for NAMWOLF membership should visit their website to learn more about membership eligibility.
Solo practitioners and small firms alike have an interest in promoting diversity and inclusion to build a well-rounded practice which represents the American people. Firms which support a diversity and inclusion initiative appeal to clients who hold the same values. Marketing your firm as “women-owned” or “minority-owned” may just open doors to big business.
Be sure to join the Solo & Small Firm Committee on its Quarterly Catch Up calls. Keep an eye out for a Litigation Connect message with details on the next call!