Burke is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within our firm and the legal profession.
We also are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences shared in the communities where we practice and by the clients we serve. Burke understands that building diversity and inclusion in recruiting, hiring, training, mentoring, and career advancement is not only the right path to pursue, but it makes us better lawyers. A diverse team empowers us to better understand our clients and their perspectives, thereby fostering the delivery of higher quality legal representation.
To promote greater diversity and inclusion, Burke established a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee (DEIB Committee). As a result of its strong commitment, the firm has achieved Mansfield Plus certification. The DEIB Committee features mindfulness education and awareness workshops which foster increased open discussion about diversity, equity, and inclusion activities with the goal of improving employee morale, job engagement, productivity, and employee retention at Burke.
The DEIB Committee also participates in the development and advancement of an Attorney Mentorship Circles Program.
This Program organizes cross-practice attorney ‘circles’ to better connect Burke owners, partners, and associates outside of their routine reporting and accountability relationships. This interaction brings together diverse attorney backgrounds and experiences to enjoy casual, yet meaningful, exchange points on topics related to enhancing the collective Burke workplace experience, as well as career advancement. In many cases, the attorney circle meetings have stimulated cross-marketing opportunities, client service expansion, and more productive interaction between Burke attorneys from different practices and offices.
The DEIB Committee has an independent operating budget, reports directly to the Firm’s Management Committee, and provides regular updates to Burke’s ownership. The DEIB Committee has targeted four areas of emphasis: (1) Education; (2) Recruitment; (3) Employee Retention and Morale; and (4) Civic Engagement, and participation in these four areas has flourished. Burke lawyers and professional staff volunteer to chair sub-committees and ad hoc working groups addressing issues of specific interest to them. Our DEIB initiative has played a key role in creating pathways for collaboration, connection, learning and support.
The Forum was launched in late 2016 and continues as a vibrant presence at Burke, offering mentoring and opportunities for empowerment, enrichment, and growth pertaining to women's careers.
The Forum is also a leadership development initiative that promotes the recruitment, retention and advancement of women attorneys at the Firm, and aims to develop them into leaders within their practice groups, the firm, the legal profession, and the community. In addition to internal firm networking and education events and informal discussions, the Forum has sponsored multiple events that promote leadership and diversity in the workplace, including the Women in Law & Leadership Summit: Silicon Valley, which explores the career obstacles, risks and rewards on the path to a fulfilling and productive career for women lawyers.
Burke is proud to share some key diversity workforce achievements as of 2024:
In 2023 and 2024, Diversity Lab recognized the degree of structural changes and steps Burke had taken to ensure the firm’s paths to leadership – including lateral hiring, client pitch teams, promotions, appointments, and more – were open and transparent to all qualified lawyers.
Burke advancement processes and leadership role descriptions are transparently communicated and accessible by all members of the firm. Our Mansfield Rule certification undertakings have broadened the slate of talent considered for opportunities. Moreover, the receipt of an additional “Plus” designation further underscores that Burke has not only taken steps to increase inclusivity in leadership, but also made standout progress in doing so. Only half of the 2023 and 2024 Mansfield Certified firms achieved this honor.
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