A Firm Commitment to Diversity

 
We believe that an inclusive, positive environment that emphasizes respect, collaboration, fairness, and equality fosters superior service to our clients and is essential to the long-term success of our firm.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Over the years, multiple studies have proven the effectiveness of diverse teams in delivering the best of service to business clients. Dykema has been committed to increasing the number of our DE&I initiatives across the firm to not only further enrich our work environment but to foster diverse teams to offer a more sophisticated response to our clients’ business needs.
Sherrie L. Farrell, Chief Diversity Officer

We are proud to have earned the distinction of Mansfield Rule 6.0 certified plus

Having achieved Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification Plus, Dykema is committed to continue to improve upon our diversity efforts through participation in Mansfield 7.0.

Our journey toward Mansfield Certification Plus

Dykema DE&I at a Glance

Dykema has earned a perfect score of 100 percent in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices with regard to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees.

As part of Dykema’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion, our women professionals have organized the Dykema Women’s Business Initiative. This initiative brings together business women and
leaders from diverse occupations, providing opportunities for building leadership skills, networking, and professional and personal growth.

Our DE&I Mission Statement

Diversity and inclusion are core values at Dykema. Our commitment to DE&I is central to how we engage with each other, engage with our clients, and engage in the communities in which we work and live.

Diversity at Dykema is not only the “right thing to do,” but it is the “business thing to do.” We believe that an inclusive, positive environment that emphasizes respect, collaboration, fairness, and equality fosters superior service to our clients and is essential to the long-term success of our firm.

Dykema is committed to ensuring workplace diversity and cultivating a culture of inclusion. We recruit, develop, retain, and promote lawyers and staff representing the full spectrum of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, national origin, age, and physical ability. 

 

Dykema has a firmwide strategic plan for diversity and inclusion that focuses on, among other things, our recruitment, retention and professional development efforts. Some of these efforts include:

  • participation in summer clerkship program for diverse 1L law students; partnering with clients on training and development opportunities for mid-level diverse associates;
  • two-tiered mentoring program; robust professional development initiatives;
  • strategic alignment with law schools;
  • mentoring/sponsorship;
  • diverse business development programs;
  • workload allocation program; and
  • implementation of firm policies (i.e., shared billings and flex-time), that can significantly impact diverse lawyers.

We also work closely with community and legal organizations on diversity initiatives. For example, Dykema lawyers are active participants with special purpose bar associations including the National Bar Association, the National Association of Women Lawyers, Hispanic National Bar Association, and the National Association of Asian Pacific Korean Bar Association. Each year, Dykema sponsors or participates in more than 30 diversity-related events.

DE&I News and Thought Leadership

Press Mentions2.20.24

Dykema Pro Bono Initiative Mentioned in Pride Source

Dykema's pro bono involvement in several name change clinics spanning multiple years mentioned in…

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Speaking Engagements2.22.24

EEO & DEI - Diversity Equity and Inclusion Within the Limits of the Law

Ray Bissmeyer and Dan Stern will both serve as featured presenters at the San Antonio Manufacturing…

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Speaking Engagements12.7.23

Gender Parity: What Is It and How Do We Get There in the DSO?

Catharine Bowe served as moderator for the Women in DSO panel, "Gender Parity: What Is It and How Do…

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