Diversity
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd is committed to being a workplace where "diversity" is not just a catch phrase or "flavor of the month", but is a part of our Firm culture. A diverse workforce makes us a better law firm, and broadens the perspective we bring to our clients' problems. Our diversity efforts reflect our belief that having lawyers of varied backgrounds, interests and cultures creates a solid foundation for providing cutting edge client solutions to ever more complex problems.
FIRM CULTURE
At Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, we do not train our lawyers to "tolerate" diversity. We celebrate the creative, innovative, and intellectually rich environment embodied in a more diverse and dynamic workplace. In this environment, individual contributions are valued. Biases based on race, gender and other factors are not tolerated, and legal knowledge combines with experience to produce a unique client product. Historically, HSB has been known for its lawyers' commitment to civility and respect. Our focus on a more inclusive, diverse workplace reflects this long-standing core value.
HSB also recognizes that our diversity efforts are critical to the level of service that we provide our clients. People with divergent backgrounds and experiences generally tend to analyze problems from different perspectives. Bringing those people together to collaborate, whether in a courtroom environment or seated at a deal table, capitalizes on their unique perspectives, ideas, analyses, and perceptions. This collaboration strengthens our work product and results in a superior product for our clients.
Achieving and supporting diversity is an ongoing challenge, one that we have made a priority in our overall Strategic Plan, and in our Firm’s management, recruiting, and day-to-day practice. We know that a true commitment to diversity requires sustained attention and effort in the areas of pipeline cultivation, lawyer recruitment, training, and retention. We have undertaken initiates in each of those areas to drive the ultimate goal of a more diverse law firm.
RECRUITING AND RETENTION
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd recruits, and works to retain, new and lateral attorneys with diverse backgrounds and exceptional legal skills. In support of its recruiting efforts, HSB has developed relationships with the Southeastern BLSA association, the VAULT Legal Diversity Career Fair, and has begun recruiting at law schools with higher minority representation. However, HSB recognizes that recruiting alone is insufficient to create and maintain the dynamic work force critical to long-term growth, economic success, and professional satisfaction. Our retention efforts focus on training, establishing meaningful professional mentoring relationship and fully integrating each attorney into the Firm. Our central goal with respect to retention is to ensure that all attorneys receive the training, mentoring, and support that they need to succeed.
In addition, resources are dedicated to ensure that our diversity commitment is reflected in our hiring practices. A few of our efforts include participating national minority job fairs, such as the VAULT Diversity Job Fair and BLSA Southeast Regional Job Fair and insisting that our firm’s core interviewer group is comprised of diverse attorneys. As well, we have historically supported local minority law student organizations and participated in outreach activities to meet local minority candidates in various cities in which we maintain offices.
SPONSORSHIP OF AND PARTICIPATION IN MAJOR DIVERSITY-RELATED EVENTS
HSB also sponsors and/or participates in a variety of major events addressing issues important to women and minorities both in the legal profession and in the wider business communities that we serve. The following list is a sampling of recent events:
ABA Minority Counsel Association (Member and Sponsor)
DRI Diversity For Success Seminars (Participant)
Charleston Women In Trade (Member, Participant, Sponsor)
BLSA Association Dinner (Annual Sponsor)
BLSA Job Fair (Annual Participant)
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (Member)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Once our recruitment efforts pay dividends, and a lawyer has joined our firm, our work begins. A welcoming, supportive environment is crucial to fostering the exploration of professional interests and the life work of developing excellent legal skills.
HSB has developed various mentoring programs including: Peer-to-Peer integration (new associates are assigned an associate mentor to aid in meeting others and getting oriented during an associate's first year with HSB; Shareholder Mentoring (new associates are assigned a shareholder advocate to whom she or he can speak about work, firm life, assistance with assignments, or other topics as needed); Diversity Committee "Watch" (minority associates are monitored to be sure they are given ample opportunity to work on the Firm's most significant matters with its most significant clients); Bi-Monthly "Associa"tion Dinners (shareholders host associates in their homes during their first and second year to promote collegiality and ease in working relationships); Quarterly (in some cases monthly) Affinity Dinner or Lunch Round Table (led by a Firm shareholder who is a member of the group, affinity groups meet on quarterly basis to discuss issues unique to them); Formal Associate Training (during the first, second, and third years, associates are required to attend mandatory lunch time "learn ins" where various shareholders or guest speakers provide nuts and bolts training on various practice areas).
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
The Firm has a standing Diversity Committee, designed to implement the diversity goals outlined in our Strategic Plan, assist in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce, and helping to establish programs, policies, and procedures that advance those efforts. The Diversity Committee is comprised of shareholders and associates with a wide variety of backgrounds, levels of legal experience, and geographic locations. They each share one important commonality: an abiding commitment to increasing Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's diversity.