Venable was recognized by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) as both a 2021 Top Performer and a Compass Award winner for the fourth year in a row. The Top Performer award recognizes those organizations in the top 20% for participation in LCLD programs and activities, and the Compass Award recognizes those members who personally attend LCLD's annual meeting and participate in the Fellows and Pathfinder programs, as well as at least one pipeline program. Earning both awards signals Venable's continued commitment to building a more diverse firm and a more inclusive legal profession.
Jenn Reddien, chief diversity and inclusion officer at Venable, said, “We are continually seeking opportunities to improve diversity and inclusion at Venable. In the past year, the firm has created the chief diversity and inclusion officer role and joined the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession and Mansfield Rule 5.0 cohort. Throughout this journey, LCLD has remained an essential partner in our efforts to attract, inspire, and nurture diverse talent. We are honored to be recognized for this work and look forward to collaborating with LCLD in the future to foster an inclusive environment at Venable and within the legal profession at large.”
LCLD is the premier organization focused on fostering equality in the legal profession for minorities, women, and LGBTQ lawyers. Venable has participated in LCLD since 2013, and its commitment to the organization's programs has grown steadily since. Each year the firm sponsors diverse Venable lawyers who participate in the LCLD Fellows program and the LCLD Pathfinder program, which provide our attorneys with opportunities to build their leadership skills and networks. Venable also hosts in its various offices diverse first-year law students who have been selected as LCLD 1L Scholars after an application and interview process. The 1L Scholars become summer associates with Venable, and most return for a second summer experience as 2Ls and eventually join the firm as first-year associates. Various Venable lawyers also participate in LCLD’s mentoring programs. We look forward to our continued involvement with LCLD.