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. The results of this phase of the Creating Pathways to Diversity Research Project will be consistent with the results from the theoretical framework put forth in Pathways I in that it will be broken down for corporate law departments in the compliant, diversity and inclusion phases of a long-term diversity initiative. Enhance legal professionals ability to advise and counsel clients. Knowledge transfer of substantive best practices, lessons learned and building a business case for diversity.