I, Kathryn Cameron Atkinson, personally commit to the following:
Personal Commitment
- I will regularly meet with members of our community to listen to their concerns, and I will act promptly to address those concerns.
- I will regularly engage with the firm’s Membership to discuss issues and underscore the importance of maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.
- I will promote inclusivity across the firm and work to ensure that employees from all backgrounds feel welcomed and are given opportunities to excel.
- I will lead by example and show, through my words and concrete actions, that I support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
- I will engage with and support the efforts of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to further ensure that our community remains a place where employees are treated fairly.
- I will discuss openly the importance of addressing systemic inequalities and will participate in and promote a variety of DEI trainings at the firm.
- I will engage with and support the efforts of the Hiring Committee to attract diverse talent at all levels.
- I will engage with and support the efforts of our Lawyer Development Committee to develop, retain, and promote the diverse talent we bring into our firm community.
- I recognize the overlapping goals of these committees and pledge to ensure that they work together to address issues through cross-committee collaboration.
Organizational Commitment
- We will provide mandatory training and optional community discussions on a variety of topics related to DEI issues.
- We will successfully complete Mansfield certification and increase the representation of diverse lawyers in leadership by broadening the pool of women, LGBTQ+ lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and/or racial/ethnic minority lawyers who are considered for entry-level and lateral attorney job openings, leadership opportunities, equity partner promotions, and opportunities to connect with clients.
- We will continue to engage with and sponsor student groups, bar associations, and other organizations that support underrepresented groups in our legal community.
- We will continue to invest in our longstanding partnerships with respected legal services organizations to combat racism and bigotry in society, and we will continue to regularly undertake client representations on behalf of racial minorities and other marginalized groups.
- We will continue to be involved in local community service and fundraising efforts to support underrepresented and underprivileged communities in Washington, DC.
- We will continue to engage with and support LCLD by nominating two Pathfinders and one Fellow each year, in addition to hosting 1L Scholars during the summer as circumstances allow.