This blog’s premise was that I could learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion by somehow cajoling folks different than me to open up about their lived experiences with professional belonging as lawyers. From the get-go this was hard to
Belonging at Work
The Belonging at Work blog, published by the Information Governance Group, focuses on issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within professional environments, particularly law firms. It explores how principles of belonging intersect with legal practice, hiring, merit evaluation, and organizational culture. The blog addresses challenges and strategies for fostering equitable workplaces, including discussions on merit-based hiring, trust, and the legal implications of diversity initiatives. It also reflects on the social and legal dynamics affecting workplace inclusion and the importance of valuing diverse perspectives and experiences in legal settings.
Latest from Belonging at Work - Page 2
How proxies for lawyer success can mislead us in finding merit
It’s right there, on page 40 of Van Halen’s concert contract, under Food Requirements: “M & M’s (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES).” Why did these rock prima donnas ban backstage brown M&Ms? In his 1997 biography, David Lee…
How unconscious bias warps our sense of merit
How merit is in the beholder’s eye
Great news! A January 21, 2025 Executive Order has declared that we’re going to be a meritocracy! The President’s E.O., titled Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, blames governmental and private sector DEI programs for “undermin[ing] our national unity,…
Belonging and America
This blog is about professional Belonging in law firms. Yet Belonging at work doesn’t operate in a vacuum. And it’s hard to ignore the vigorous demolition project now underway all around us, as our new President rapidly seeks to transform…
Practicing Belonging: Be curious. Care enough to find out what your lawyers want to be, and help them get there.
I brought a carryout Roasterie coffee when I recently met with Diana Kander. Diana asked for no coffee, perhaps because her laser-focused energy could power half a continent without caffeine. Diana is a Millennial, and she and husband Jason…
Practicing Belonging: Be curious. Care enough to find out what your lawyers want to be, and help them get there.
I brought a carryout Roasterie coffee when I recently met with Diana Kander. Diana asked for no coffee, perhaps because her laser-focused energy could power half a continent without caffeine. Diana is a Millennial, and she and husband Jason…
How to connect in identity conversations
The last part of Charles Duhigg’s book Supercommunicators, after problem-solving conversations and emotion conversations, helps unpack what goes on in perhaps the most challenging and uncomfortable conversations of all – those that turn upon, or trigger, our identities.
As…
Practicing Belonging: Be clear about your Firm’s standards and evenhanded in applying them.
Shomari Benton and I met up over morning coffee at Café Corazón. Shomari is a real estate and development lawyer and also an entrepreneurial property redeveloper focused on Kansas City’s urban core. He is a young Gen Xer,…
How to connect with emotion conversations
I was uncomfortable about this next part of Charles Duhigg’s book, Supercommunicators, which moves on from “what’s this about” (problem-solving) conversations to “how do I feel?” (emotion) conversations. Beats me if it’s a me-thing, or an old…