7 diversity leaders who are fighting for equality and inclusion in Big Law from firms like Baker McKenzie and Debevoise

White & Case

It’s time for firms to think beyond diversity and inclusion and create a true feeling of equity and belonging within law firms, said Hazell, who spearheaded Fried Frank’s diversity and inclusion efforts for more than six years before moving to White & Case in 2014.

The legal industry is still too focused on the idea of meritocracy, where everyone is given opportunities to succeed and the best will naturally rise to the top, she said. But that works only if everyone comes to the table with equal footing, which is almost never the case if you’re working to bring a diverse group of people into your workforce.

“You can bring in diverse numbers at the junior ranks and be super inclusive, with initiatives to include them, events to acknowledge who they are, and diversity committees,” she said. “But if  you don’t feel like you belong in that environment because you don’t get certain signals to feel like you belong, you won’t feel like you fit in and do your best work.”

With Hazell at the helm, White & Case achieved Mansfield Certification Plus status last year, a gold standard in the legal industry that law firms can earn if they have considered women, attorneys of color, people in the LGBTQ community, and lawyers with disabilities for at least 30% of leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client-pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions.’

Read more: Rumblings of racism at a famous civil-rights law firm highlight the lack of diversity at the firms that are supposed to fight for the oppressed

The firm is also one of 10 best law firms for diversity, according to Vault.

Hazell said one thing she was focusing on was teaching leadership and management skills to partners and empowering them to lean into uncomfortable conversations, like the history of slavery in the US and that people in the country are treated differently based on their skin color.

“It’s not just including you, it’s cultivating a sense of belonging,” she said.