Biglaw

With New Billable Hours Policy, Biglaw Firm Solidifies Commitment To Making Legal Profession More Inclusive

What is your firm doing to support DE&I within the legal profession?

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Biglaw firms across the country are implementing all manner of initiatives to bring attention to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion among their ranks. We’ve previously acknowledged Dorsey & Whitney, Hogan Lovells, Davis Wright Tremaine, Reed Smith, Cooley, Baker McKenzie, Ropes & Gray, Locke Lord, Foley Hoag, K&L Gates, and Robinson+Cole as firms where approved diversity and inclusion-related work will be billable for attorneys and will count toward bonus thresholds. We now have news that an additional firm will be introducing billable credit for attorneys who log time doing work to advance diversity within the legal profession.

Stoel Rives — a firm that brought in $259,328,000 gross revenue in 2020 — is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to its commitment to diversity and inclusion with its new billable hours policy. From the firm’s press release:

Starting November 1, 2021, lawyers will receive billable credit for up to 50 hours of approved DE&I activities performed during each 12-month period covered by Stoel’s evaluation process. The firm’s definition of diversity includes racial/ethnic minorities, lawyers who identify as LGBTQ+, lawyers with disabilities, and women. Stoel’s approved DE&I activities include:

  • Attending firm-sponsored affinity bar and community and client -sponsored events that promote DE&I
  • Attending external conference or educational sessions related to DE&I
  • Developing and delivering presentations or training programs on DE&I topics
  • Active participation in a local or national affinity bar association, on a non-profit board, or in another diversity organization
  • Serving on firm-wide or office DE&I committees, working groups, or subcommittees
  • Organizing or attending DE&I Committee-sponsored events
  • Participating in the firm’s internal affinity groups
  • Participating in Stoel’s Move the Needle activities
  • Participating in recruiting efforts of diverse candidates
  • Participating in mentoring, coaching, or sponsorship activities of diverse talent
  • Representing Stoel at client-facing diversity events or trainings

This is a firm that truly cares about diversity. Last month, Stoel received Mansfield Rule 4.0 Plus Certification from the Diversity Lab, meaning that the firm considers at least 30 percent diverse lawyers for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. At the time of publication, 50% of the firm’s lawyers are diverse and 54% of those in the firm’s top leadership roles are diverse.

Melissa Jones, the firm’s managing partner, said of the firm’s diversity initiatives: “We have a deep, firmwide commitment to enhancing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion, and introducing DE&I billable credit hours encourages broad engagement in our diversity mission by rewarding our lawyers for their contributions in helping achieve our goals.”

With its new diversity hours policy, the firm is doubling its annual billable credit hours to 100 hours (the firm currently allows up to 50 hours of billable credit for pro bono work). Congratulations to Stoel Rives on its firm commitment to diversity in the legal profession. What is your firm doing to support DE&I within the legal profession? Please email us to let us know.

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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