Diversity and Inclusion
From our inception, Kean Miller has recognized the value of diverse ethnic, cultural and racial backgrounds to the balance and success of the firm. We are committed to promoting a culture of inclusion, not only within the firm, but in the communities where we live and work. The best evidence of this commitment is found in our statistics:
Chevron Law Firm Diversity Recognition Award:
In July 2008, Kean Miller was selected as one of three recipients of the Chevron Corporation Law Function’s fourth-annual Law Firm Diversity Recognition Award. The award program, started in 2005, recognizes Chevron’s law firm partners who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating their commitment to diversity in the legal profession and by fostering an inclusive work environment.
Law School Recruiting:
We continue to seek a more diverse environment by recruiting at all four law schools in Louisiana and regularly participating in state and regional minority law student job fairs. Among our 2008 summer clerks, 25% were minorities. Of our class of associates who started in September 2008, 50% were minorities and 75% were women. Among our 2009 summer clerks, 61% were women and 17% were minorities. Of our class of new associates who started in September 2009, 71% are women and 28% are minorities.
Scholarships:
Kean Miller encourages diversity in the profession by sponsoring law school scholarships awarded to minority law students at both the LSU Law Center and the Southern University Law Center.
Kean Miller Connection Law School Preparatory Program:
Kean Miller attorneys organize, host, and produce the Kean Miller Connection, a law school preparatory program for college juniors and seniors from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in area law schools. The two-day workshop provides information on law school admission standards, insight into opportunities in the legal field, speakers from all facets of the legal profession, financial aid information, and general information designed to encourage minorities to enter the profession.
Louisiana Diversity Forum:
Kean Miller organizes and sponsors the Louisiana Diversity Forum. The 2007 Louisiana Diversity Forum attracted almost 100 area professionals who heard from a variety of speakers and learned how to put diversity to work for their businesses. Speakers included representatives from Shell Oil Company, The Shaw Group, Chevron Corporation, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Louisisana Commission on Human Rights, the LSU Law Center, and the Southern University Law Center. The 2008 Louisiana Diversity Forum, held on October 18, 2008, attracted over 150 area professionals eager to learn about diversity in the workplace. The 2009 Louisiana Diversity Forum was held on September 24, 2009 in Baton Rouge.
Kean Miller Dictionary Project:
Our attorneys and staff are actively engaged in community projects and initiatives that encourage inclusion. We are particularly proud of the Kean Miller Dictionary Project, through which 60,000 dictionaries have been delivered to third-grade students in local public schools over the last seven years.
Volunteers in Public Schools:
Kean Miller reached out to the public school system in 1997 and adopted Glen Oaks Middle School through the East Baton Rouge Parish Volunteers in Public Schools (“VIPS”) program. Over the years, we have engaged in a number of activities to support the school and its predominantly African-American student body, including tutoring, a reading program, Junior Achievement, essay contests, an annual book drive, assisting with an open house for parents, conducting Career Day activities for 8th graders, producing a school newsletter, and engaging in teacher support activities.
Work at Respect™:
In keeping with our efforts to promote diversity not only internally, but in the community at large, our labor and employment lawyers, in conjunction with Professor Russell Jones of the Southern University Law Center, developed Work at Respect.™ Work at Respect™ encourages and promotes respect for diversity in the workplace and is regularly presented to clients, community groups, and our own attorneys, paralegals and support staff.
Women in Business:
Kean Miller is an active supporter of women’s initiatives and has served as a primary sponsor of the Baton Rouge Business Report’s Influential Women in Business award luncheon for the last five years. Kean Miller partners Katherine King (2005) and Linda Perez Clark (2008) are past winners of the award. We also sponsor events such as the annual Women in Business seminar conducted by the Entrepreneurship Institute at LSU's E. J. Ourso College of Business. The Women in Business seminar series is designed to provide skills and training specifically geared toward the special needs of female entrepreneurs as they plan and start businesses.
Kean Miller Diversity Council:
Kean Miller developed a Diversity Council several years ago to promote diversity awareness and initiatives within the firm and the community. The Diversity Council includes attorneys from several practice areas and representatives from our management committee, recruiting committee, client services team, and human resources group.
MCCA:
Kean Miller is an active member of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and participates in the many activities of the association. We regularly support the Lloyd M. Johnson Scholarship Program.
Conclusion:
We at Kean Miller are proud of our historical commitment to diversity and we look forward to continuing that commitment, as well as pursuing new opportunities that encourage diverse perspectives. Finally, Kean Miller is an excellent place to work. Our employees, our best critics, have praised the work environment and the advantage of working in an atmosphere where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
- Kean Miller has one of the highest percentages of women lawyers and women partners of any major law firm in the United States.
- Kean Miller ranks among Louisiana firms having the highest percentages of minority attorneys.
- Currently the firm has 34% women lawyers and 14% minority lawyers.
- Among partners, 23% are women and 8% are minorities.
- Currently, 20% of the firm’s administrative management, 10% of our legal assistants, and 13% of firm staff and support services are minorities.
Chevron Law Firm Diversity Recognition Award:
In July 2008, Kean Miller was selected as one of three recipients of the Chevron Corporation Law Function’s fourth-annual Law Firm Diversity Recognition Award. The award program, started in 2005, recognizes Chevron’s law firm partners who have distinguished themselves by demonstrating their commitment to diversity in the legal profession and by fostering an inclusive work environment.
Law School Recruiting:
We continue to seek a more diverse environment by recruiting at all four law schools in Louisiana and regularly participating in state and regional minority law student job fairs. Among our 2008 summer clerks, 25% were minorities. Of our class of associates who started in September 2008, 50% were minorities and 75% were women. Among our 2009 summer clerks, 61% were women and 17% were minorities. Of our class of new associates who started in September 2009, 71% are women and 28% are minorities.
Scholarships:
Kean Miller encourages diversity in the profession by sponsoring law school scholarships awarded to minority law students at both the LSU Law Center and the Southern University Law Center.
Kean Miller Connection Law School Preparatory Program:
Kean Miller attorneys organize, host, and produce the Kean Miller Connection, a law school preparatory program for college juniors and seniors from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in area law schools. The two-day workshop provides information on law school admission standards, insight into opportunities in the legal field, speakers from all facets of the legal profession, financial aid information, and general information designed to encourage minorities to enter the profession.
Louisiana Diversity Forum:
Kean Miller organizes and sponsors the Louisiana Diversity Forum. The 2007 Louisiana Diversity Forum attracted almost 100 area professionals who heard from a variety of speakers and learned how to put diversity to work for their businesses. Speakers included representatives from Shell Oil Company, The Shaw Group, Chevron Corporation, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Louisisana Commission on Human Rights, the LSU Law Center, and the Southern University Law Center. The 2008 Louisiana Diversity Forum, held on October 18, 2008, attracted over 150 area professionals eager to learn about diversity in the workplace. The 2009 Louisiana Diversity Forum was held on September 24, 2009 in Baton Rouge.
Kean Miller Dictionary Project:
Our attorneys and staff are actively engaged in community projects and initiatives that encourage inclusion. We are particularly proud of the Kean Miller Dictionary Project, through which 60,000 dictionaries have been delivered to third-grade students in local public schools over the last seven years.
Volunteers in Public Schools:
Kean Miller reached out to the public school system in 1997 and adopted Glen Oaks Middle School through the East Baton Rouge Parish Volunteers in Public Schools (“VIPS”) program. Over the years, we have engaged in a number of activities to support the school and its predominantly African-American student body, including tutoring, a reading program, Junior Achievement, essay contests, an annual book drive, assisting with an open house for parents, conducting Career Day activities for 8th graders, producing a school newsletter, and engaging in teacher support activities.
Work at Respect™:
In keeping with our efforts to promote diversity not only internally, but in the community at large, our labor and employment lawyers, in conjunction with Professor Russell Jones of the Southern University Law Center, developed Work at Respect.™ Work at Respect™ encourages and promotes respect for diversity in the workplace and is regularly presented to clients, community groups, and our own attorneys, paralegals and support staff.
Women in Business:
Kean Miller is an active supporter of women’s initiatives and has served as a primary sponsor of the Baton Rouge Business Report’s Influential Women in Business award luncheon for the last five years. Kean Miller partners Katherine King (2005) and Linda Perez Clark (2008) are past winners of the award. We also sponsor events such as the annual Women in Business seminar conducted by the Entrepreneurship Institute at LSU's E. J. Ourso College of Business. The Women in Business seminar series is designed to provide skills and training specifically geared toward the special needs of female entrepreneurs as they plan and start businesses.
Kean Miller Diversity Council:
Kean Miller developed a Diversity Council several years ago to promote diversity awareness and initiatives within the firm and the community. The Diversity Council includes attorneys from several practice areas and representatives from our management committee, recruiting committee, client services team, and human resources group.
MCCA:
Kean Miller is an active member of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and participates in the many activities of the association. We regularly support the Lloyd M. Johnson Scholarship Program.
Conclusion:
We at Kean Miller are proud of our historical commitment to diversity and we look forward to continuing that commitment, as well as pursuing new opportunities that encourage diverse perspectives. Finally, Kean Miller is an excellent place to work. Our employees, our best critics, have praised the work environment and the advantage of working in an atmosphere where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.