In addition, membership opportunities for corporate law departments are available. The Sager Award is given to law firms that have demonstrated sustained commitment to improve the hiring, retention and promotion of minority attorneys. Last year, MCCA completed the first phase of the Creating Pathways to Diversity Research Project, a three-year effort to study how corporate law departments and law firms design, implement and monitor their diversity progress. By collecting and reporting on diversity best practices in law firms and law departments, MCCA will focus on creating effective professional skills development programs for minority attorneys, which include mentoring and community outreach. Diversity demonstrates an appreciation for their differences.
Inclusion creates an environment in which people want to stay.
In the first year, Pathways revealed that, with respect to their diversity efforts, most corporate law departments can be placed on a spectrum from compliance with federal regulations to inclusion. Their transition and progress through these stages are facilitated by integrated initiatives that align diversity goals with strategic, business goals. While representation of minorities in corporate law departments has increased over the last ten years, today there are still only 15 minority general counsel in the Fortune 500. That s less than 2.5 percent of the total number of general counsel in the Fortune 500. In an effort to address this issue, MCCA is sponsoring eight regional General Counsel Roundtables around the United States, each hosted by one or more general counsel who will invite up to 15 participants from other major companies in their region.