Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy
Wyrick Robbins is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, veteran status, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We recognize that people are our greatest resource and that encouraging varied perspectives and experiences in our workplace is integral to our firm’s success. As such, we seek to recruit, retain, and promote a diverse group of talented attorneys and staff to deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients.
To focus our diversity efforts, Wyrick Robbins maintains a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The Committee is composed of firm management, attorneys, paralegals, and staff of varying seniority and practice areas. Members of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee serve on several of our firm’s standing committees, including the Executive, Associates, Recruiting, Attorney Development, Social, and Women of Wyrick Committees. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee also provides a forum for everyone at Wyrick Robbins to address a wide range of diversity and inclusion matters. Most importantly, the Committee seeks to ensure that our firm maintains an atmosphere of acceptance, inclusion, and mutual respect.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiatives
We are proud of our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Wyrick Robbins and in our community, some of which include:
Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification. The Midsize Mansfield Rule is a certification administered by Diversity Lab that is designed to increase the number of attorneys from historically underrepresented groups working in and leading law firms with 25 to 150 US attorneys. Historically underrepresented groups for purposes of the Midsize Mansfield Rule include racial/ethnic minority attorneys, female attorneys, LGBTQ+ attorneys, and attorneys with disabilities. The certification will require our firm to consider at least 30% historically underrepresented lawyers for 60% or more of all hiring searches and openings, equity partner promotions, firm governance and managing partner roles, and formal client meetings and presentations over the 18-month certification period beginning in September 2021.
Wyrick Robbins Diversity Scholarship. Wyrick Robbins is dedicated not only to promoting diversity within our own firm but also within the greater legal profession, beginning with students in law school. The Wyrick Robbins Diversity Scholarship is awarded to a diverse 1L law student with strong academic and professional credentials, a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and North Carolina communities, and an interest in the firm and its practice areas. The scholarship is composed of a financial award, a summer clerkship at our firm, and committed mentoring by our attorneys during the student’s law school career. Visit the Wyrick Robbins Diversity Scholarship page for more information.
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Wyrick Robbins is a member of the LCLD, a trans-Atlantic group of several corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who have dedicated themselves to creating a diverse U.S. legal profession. LCLD’s programs are designed to attract, inspire, and nurture the talent in society and within our organizations, thereby helping a more diverse generation of attorneys ascend to positions of leadership. Several of our attorneys mentor minority law students throughout North Carolina as part of the LCLD’s initiatives.
Recruiting and Student Outreach. In addition to the Wyrick Robbins Diversity Scholarship, our firm participates in other initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in the legal profession, including select minority law student recruitment events. We also partner with minority student organizations at several North Carolina law schools.
Mentoring. Our firm is committed to mentoring its attorneys and paralegals. We maintain an Attorney Development, Mentoring, and Training Committee as well as a Corporate Paralegal Liaison/Mentor Committee. These Committees provide our legal professionals with training, feedback, and a sounding board for questions about firm life and professional growth, all of which facilitate career development in an open and collaborative setting.
Women of Wyrick Committee. This Committee provides our firm’s women attorneys with support and mentoring to further their success, increase their visibility within Wyrick Robbins, encourage their involvement in community initiatives, and foster business development opportunities. The Women of Wyrick Committee holds annual business networking events for women executives, entrepreneurs, and attorneys within our firm. This Committee also supports women in our community, including through interview training days held in partnership with Dress for Success.
Bar Association Activities. To promote the advancement of diversity and inclusion initiatives in the legal community, our attorneys and paralegals have leadership roles in key diversity and inclusion committees of the American Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, and North Carolina Paralegal Association. In addition, our attorneys routinely volunteer to speak on panels addressing, among other topics, gender and diversity in the legal profession.
Other Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Efforts. Wyrick Robbins is dedicated to increasing awareness and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our firm and in our community. We have compulsory diversity and inclusion training, focus sessions on important diversity and inclusion topics such as implicit bias, and celebrate several nationally recognized diversity days. We also have hosted facilitated sessions on racial equity and systemic racism to help us learn from the experiences of others and to share ideas and aspirations on how to build a more just and equal society. Wyrick Robbins is also proud to participate in and sponsor community organizations and events supporting our diverse community. Among them are Meals on Wheels and Read & Feed.
Pro Bono. Every year, Wyrick Robbins dedicates significant time to pro bono work supporting diverse communities.