Diversity

There’s a long way to go.
We’re stepping up the pace.

Since our founding in 1933, we’ve taken pride in driving diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and at our firm. Mintz consistently exceeds National Association for Law Placement (NALP) peer averages on partner-level diversity across metrics — by persons of color, gender, and LGBTQ status — yet the measurable results, at the firm as in our profession, fall short of reflecting the nation’s population, particularly when it comes to Black lawyers.

On Juneteenth, 2020, Mintz Managing Member Bob Bodian announced initial steps to address this disparity and long-term barriers to equity. Led by our Diversity Committee, Mintz is implementing these measures immediately and setting goals to achieve tangible results. One example: We’ve committed to increasing the number of Black attorneys at the firm by 50%. That’s just one way we’re reinvigorating our sustained commitment to drive change at Mintz and to integrate diverse perspectives in everything we do — from running the firm’s day-to-day operations to managing our client relationships.

Commitment to Diversity

From Intention to Impact 2023 DEI report

From Intention to Impact: Our 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report

Fostering community, leveraging excellence, and making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of position, race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability, are priorities for Mintz.

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A Message from Our Managing Member

We announced a series of measures in June 2020 that Mintz implemented to drive change at the firm, in the legal profession, and in our nation. In a letter to the Mintz community two years later, Managing Member Bob Bodian reflects on the numerous steps the firm has taken as part of a sustained commitment to end social injustice and what they mean.

Commitment to Change

A Higher Bar: The 2021-2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report

Mintz takes great pride in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion within our firm and across the legal industry. To empower our employees, we must integrate diverse voices, ideas, and perspectives.

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Diversty, Equity & Inclusion Report 2020 Web Card

The 2020 Mintz Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report

Our first annual DEI report highlights Mintz programs and initiatives that reflect our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and legal industry. We welcome opportunities to partner with clients and professional colleagues to drive diversity and inclusion. And we continue to work to accelerate the pace of change.

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Geri Haight

Member / Chair, Women's Initiative Steering Committe

“It’s significant that 82% of the firm’s recent summer associates and seven of its nine newest Members are women. As Chair of the Mintz Women’s Initiative, I look forward to working with our team to develop innovative opportunities to promote the professional growth, retention, and advancement of women attorneys at Mintz and in our profession.”

Brent Henry

Member

“Mintz was founded on the concept of diversity as a business imperative for lawyers who couldn’t find a home in more traditional law firms in Boston. That kind of heritage really does propel a place like Mintz to the forefront of continuing to lead in the diversity space.”

Committed to Change

Mintz is implementing the following measures to address inequality in our communities:

Designating every presidential Election Day a paid firm volunteerism day to encourage employees to vote and donate their time — participating in Election Day phone banks, poll-watching, transporting others to polling places, and more
Supporting Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance, devoting pro bono resources to combating systemic racism, reforming laws that are racist, and addressing policies and practices that perpetuate racism within law firms
Pursuing additional social justice reform work on a pro bono basis
Focusing on Black attorney recruitment and retention to achieve a 50% increase in representation
Adding a summer position in our DC office, beginning in 2021, for a 1L law student from the Howard University School of Law
Strengthening ties with Boston Lawyers Group, founded over 25 years ago by two Mintz Members

Leading the Way in Law Firm Diversity

The firm’s Sponsor & Retention Program helps Associates of color build long-term careers at Mintz by pairing them with a sponsoring Member, helping them develop an internal network, and helping them build substantive, mutually beneficial relationships with peers.
We incentivize attorneys to devote time to improving diversity at Mintz and in the legal profession by issuing creditable hours.
The firm is a proud member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), an organization of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who have dedicated themselves to a more diverse legal profession.
Our annual Richard Mintz Diversity Scholarship is awarded to a law student from a diverse background who has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to community and enhancing diversity.
Mintz is the Diversity and Inclusion sponsor of the Association of Corporate Counsel – Northeast Region.

My father and his partners were committed to building a firm that was inclusive and progressive in terms of its approach to diversity. He often reminded me that as an immigrant child from the age of six, he had benefited from opportunities and that it was his joyful duty ‘to give back.’

Richard Mintz (1921 – 2011)Mintz Member for 57 years

We Are Mintz

Professional Cropped Kakalia Narges Mintz

Narges M. Kakalia

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, New York

When selecting a firm during law school, Mintz stood out from the rest because it has a culture that embraces the uniqueness of everyone that is part of the firm. It was different from what I’d grown to expect from Big Law. At Mintz I’ve always felt I can be my true, authentic self. As an immigrant woman of color, I’ve been able to take advantage of great career enhancing opportunities over the last 18 years — building a successful litigation practice in a congenial, fun environment.

Joshua Briones

Member / Managing Member, Los Angeles

I chose to work at Mintz because I saw diversity everywhere in power at Mintz; as office managers, division heads, on Policy and Compensation Committees. Diversity in management of the firm is critical for success in the 21st Century. Diversity of talent, by definition, provides more ideas and perspectives into driving the best solutions for our clients.

Professional Cropped Brayman Melissa Mintz

Melissa J. Brayman, PhD

Special Counsel, San Diego

Mintz’s emphasis on collaboration and inclusion was very appealing to me when selecting a firm to continue my career. Members and associates throughout the firm, from a range of backgrounds and lifestyles, are encouraged to work together to provide the best possible representation for our clients.

Professional Cropped Hernandez Fred Mintz

Fred C. Hernandez

Member / Chair, Intellectual Property Prosecution and Counseling Practice, San Diego

I chose Mintz because I wanted to work at a firm that provides and encourages top-notch legal work and that also fosters a respectful and collaborative culture. The firm provides full support and funding of its affinity groups, including hosting an annual retreat for attorneys of color and allowing creditable hours toward diversity-related activities.

National Recognition

Mintz is consistently recognized as a diversity leader in the legal profession.

Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality 2022

Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Mintz received its 15th consecutive perfect score on the annual Corporate Equality Index.

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Chambers’ Diversity & Inclusion shortlist for Outstanding Firm

Chambers and Partners

Mintz has made Chambers’ Diversity & Inclusion shortlist for Outstanding Firm for three consecutive years

Mintz’s Bob Bodian Honored with Outstanding Ally Award from Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2020

Chambers and Partners

Mintz shortlisted for Inclusive Firm of the Year, two individuals shortlisted for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year and Diversity & Inclusion Lawyer of the Year

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Firm-Based Affinity Groups

Women’s Initiative

Led by the Women's Steering Committee, this group sponsors numerous professional, networking, and social events aimed at supporting and enriching the lives of our female attorneys.

Three colleagues conversing in an office

MIATTY

Our affinity group for minority attorneys and Patent Agents works to enhance opportunities, retention, and advancement for attorneys and senior legal professionals of color.

Mintz Pride

Mintz Pride provides opportunities to promote a supportive, equitable, and inclusive working environment where LGBTQ+ attorneys and professional staff — and their allies — can foster community and opportunity.

Diversity Events

Women Doing Well While Doing Good

June Baldwin, Kris Cheh Beck, and Yemi Adegbonmire shared insights into achieving professional success while also making a difference in the world. We heard about their personal struggles and triumphs and how they balanced their career ambitions with their goal of making the world a better place.

Third Annual Bay Area Diversity Event: Mentoring & Sponsorship for Success and Happiness

Mentorship and sponsorship are fundamental to personal and professional growth. During our interactive discussion, our inspiring panelists shared their experiences and how these relationships have helped them find success and happiness.

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“The Bridge Between Everyday Stress and Burnout” — How to Obtain a Balance in Life & Work

The American Bar Association and other influential legal organizations formed the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being to take a comprehensive look at stress in the legal field. The task force’s report issued last fall called well-being an “indispensable part of a lawyer’s duty of competence” and offered recommendations aimed at reducing attorney stress throughout the profession.

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