Community

The list of organizations directly supported by Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell is vast.  We proactively seek out opportunities to partner with organizations that positively impact the communities in which we do business, which our attorneys are involved with and that can tangibly increase diversity in the profession and within our firm.  Examples include the following:

• Atlanta Legal Diversity Consortium (ALDC): Several partners serve on the organizations’ Board of Directors
• Austin Black Lawyers Association
• California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP): Several partners serve on the organization’s Board of Directors
• Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms: One of the National Diversity Committee’s co-chairs was elected to the organization’s Board of Directors.  Many of the Firm’s attorneys routinely attend events and training sponsored by the Chicago Committee.  The Firm, through its Director of Diversity and in conjunction with four other law firms, is developing a city-wide “pipeline” initiative with the organization.
• Cook County Bar Association (CCBA): The firm has partnered with this organization in putting on its annual job fair.
  Dallas Bar Association’s Minority Attorney Business Development Initiative: The Firm participates in this program which links firms and law students from schools not traditionally represented within firms.
• Dallas Diversity Task Force
• Hispanic Bar Association of Austin
• Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI): The Firm sponsors associates who are actively involved in the mentoring of Hispanic/Latin law students through this organization.  The Firm also has a scholarship in its name through HLAI’s sister organization, the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund.
• Houston Bar Association’s Subcommittee on Minority Opportunities Program: The Firm has participated in this program since 2002, providing summer clerkships and mentoring to participant law students.
• Houston Diversity Council: We are involved in the launch of this new organization.
• J.L. Turner Legal Association: Several Dallas attorneys are active members, and one of our partners has been named President-Elect of the organization.
• Lambda Legal
• Leadership Academy for Women of Color Attorneys: The Firm sponsors and attends the annual training conference presented by this organization.
• Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA): Locke Lord acts as the host firm for the Southeast Region Managing Director and staff.  In addition, the firm is a sponsor of the organization’s annual CLE Expo in Chicago, diversity dinners, and attends and fully supports events presented by the organization.
• Minority Attorney Networking Series: A fledgling initiative in Dallas, designed to permit diverse attorneys to network, build alliances and form relationships with colleagues in the community.
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA): The Firm fully supports the time and expense associated with our attorneys’ involvement with the organization, particularly a partner who is president of the Georgia Asian Bar Association (the Georgia affiliate of NAPABA) and southeast regional governor for NAPABA.  Several associates and partners attended NAPABA’s 19th annual convention in 2007.
• National Bar Association (NBA): The Firm fully supports the membership and conference attendance of several attorneys.

The above list does not include the many charitable and community organizations which the firm has served on its Day of Service commemorating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Recognition of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell's Efforts
In January 2007, based upon our demographics, we were selected one of the “Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity” by Multicultural Law Magazine.  In September 2002, our Los Angeles office won the Thomas L. Sager Award, presented by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) to law firms that have demonstrated sustained commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys.  This award is given to firms that have adopted diversity as part of their strategic business plan and have implemented programs that have the support of top management.  We are honored to have received this prestigious award not only as an affirmation of our successes, but as a challenge to continue as a leader among law firms in the area of diversity.