Inclusion & Diversity

Inclusion and diversity are core values at Bradley. Our law firm’s success relies on the ingenuity, intelligence, and interpersonal skills of our people. By employing attorneys and staff from a variety of backgrounds, we leverage a wide range of perspectives that help us achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand. Workplace diversity and inclusion are essential to our business strategies, professional ideals, and relationships with the clients and communities we serve. That is why we are committed to supporting strategic opportunities and platforms for discussion, reflection, and growth as we pursue a more diverse and engaged work environment.

Bradley’s success derives from the ingenuity, intelligence, values, skills, and diverse perspectives of our people. At Bradley, maintaining a working environment that is rewarding, respectful, collegial, diverse, and inclusive is one of our core values. Upholding that core value is a source of strength for our firm and is critical to delivering high-quality legal services to our clients. To that end, our objective is to attract, retain, and promote into leadership roles individuals who foster inclusion and reflect the diversity we value. Bradley is committed to a work environment in which our people thrive and reach their full professional potential regardless of age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, parental status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, and/or socio-economic status.

Inclusion and Diversity Goals Wheel Infographic | Training, Resource Groups, Diverse Partnerships, Firm Growth, Education and Awareness, Pipelines, Recruit, Develop and Advance

Bradley’s firmwide Inclusion & Diversity Committee works to shape diversity efforts both inside and outside of the firm through monthly meetings, firm initiatives, training sessions, discussion groups, and more.

Inclusion & Diversity Committee Graphic 2023

Bradley’s Resource Groups are designed to provide support to underrepresented minority groups and create a safe space for attorneys to connect, support and advocate for one another. 

Lawyers of Color Resource Group 

Bradley’s Lawyers of Color Resource Group (LOCRG) is a network for the firm’s Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American attorneys. The purpose of the group is to promote and support diverse attorneys by engaging with one another on a professional and personal level while embracing and celebrating cultural differences. The group focuses on internal practices, policies and procedures, professional development, and business development, as well as recruiting and retention.

LGBTQ+ Resource Group

Bradley’s LGBTQ+ Resource Group was formed to increase the visibility of and promote the inclusion of the firm’s LGBTQ+ attorneys, to support the professional growth of its members, and to provide an understanding of unique issues facing LGBTQ+ attorneys and the broader LGBTQ+ community. In carrying out its vision, the group works to ensure and promote the firm’s commitment to hiring and retention of well-qualified LGBTQ+ attorneys, to explore avenues for personal and professional development for its members, and to carry forward the firm’s commitment to diversity and community service.

Military Veterans Resource Group 

Bradley’s Military Veterans Resource Group (MVRG) exists to connect service veterans and enhance the education, awareness and exchange of topics important to the military and veteran community. The MVRG seeks to both encourage and help recruit and retain former or current  military members, as well as engage in outreach and service activities for the military community outside the firm. The MVRG conducts periodic gatherings and meetings to celebrate the shared experiences of former or current military members. 

The Winn Initiative

A program committed to supporting women at the firm, Bradley’s Winn Initiative was named in honor of late partner Ellene Winn, who in 1957 became the first female partner in a law firm of substantial size in the Southeast. The program serves as an internal women’s career development group to foster and encourage a supportive environment within the firm. The group hosts programs that focus on boosting professional skills, leadership, mentoring, business development, and retention.

  • Human Rights Campaign HRC LogoAdvancing Women in Nashville
  • Alabama State Bar Diversity Committee
  • Charting Your Own Course
  • DRI Diversity for Success
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity MemberLeadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair
  • Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
  • National Association of Women LawyersNashville Pride Sponsorship
  • Lawyers Association for Women
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • LSAC Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program
  • Magic City Bar Association
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Charlotte Diversity Recruiting Program
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association
  • The LGBT Bar LogoSouthern Region of the National Black Law Students Association Regional Convention
  • Mississippi College School of Law R. Jess Brown Scholarship
  • Momentum Women’s Leadership Program
  • Napier-Looby Bar Foundation
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Nashville Pride Sponsorship
  • National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • National Bar Association
  • National LGBT Bar Foundation
  • Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women
  • University of Alabama Black Law Students Association
  • University of Mississippi School of Law Bessie Young Council Diversity and Inclusion Fellow
  • South Asian Bar Association of Houston
  • University of Tennessee College of Law Blackshear Sponsorship
  • Women Lawyers of Charlotte
  • Women’s Foundation of Mississippi
  • Bradley was awarded the Nashville Bar Association’s 2022 Gold Diversity Award.
  • Britney Crawford was selected as a 2022-2023 National Bar Association (NBA) Associate Advancement Academy of Excellence Fellow.
  • Anne Marie Seibel was named among the Birmingham Business Journal’s “2022 Leaders in Diversity” and became chair elect of the ABA Litigation Section.
  • Heather Wright was selected as the co-chair of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Women in Compliance affinity group.
  • Michael Williams was selected as a 2022 LCLD Fellow.
  • Gabriella Alonso was selected as a 2022 LCLD Pathfinder.
  • Margaret Cupples was the 2022 recipient of the Susie Blue Buchanan Award, which is presented by the Mississippi Bar’s Women in the Profession Committee and honors a woman lawyer who has achieved professional excellence in her field and paved the way for other woman lawyers to achieve success.
  • Meade Hartfield is the immediate past president and inaugural chair of ADLA’s Women in the Law Committee and was elected vice chair of the DRI Women in the Law Committee. Meade was also named to the Momentum Executive Leadership Class 20.
  • Momentum Women’s Leadership Board of Directors
    • Anne Marie Seibel, 2013-2020
  •  Momentum Women’s Leadership Executive Class Participants
    • Meade Hartfield, 2022-2023
    • Nancy Ball, 2021-2022
    • Jennifer Hoover Clark, 2020-2021
    • Tiffany deGruy, 2019-2020
    • Jennifer McGahey, 2018-2019
    • Julie Bernstein, 2017-2018
    • Linda Friedman, 2015-2016
    • Kim Martin, 2014-2015
    • Jamie Moore, 2013-2014
    • Anne Marie Seibel, 2012-2013
    • Tracy Thompson, 2010-2011
    • Laura Washburn, 2009-2010
    • Dawn Sharff, 2005-2006
    • Anne Yuengert, 2003-2004
    • Leigh Anne Hodge, 2003-2004
  •  Momentum Women’s Leadership Upward Program Participants
    • Carly Miller, 2021
    • Brooke Vinson, 2021
    • Hillary Campbell, 2020
    • Anna Craft, 2020
    • Ann Hill, 2019
    • Anne Knox Averitt, 2019
  • Elizabeth Boone was listed in the Mississippi Business Journal as a member of the Class of 2022 for “Mississippi Businesswomen of the Year.”
  • Hillary Campbell was recognized among the Birmingham Business Journal’s “Women to Watch” for 2022.
  • Leigh Anne Hodge, Lela Hollabaugh, and Kim Martin were named to Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation” list for 2022.
  • Tiffany deGruy was appointed Women Advocate co-chair of the ABA, and was named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list for 2022.
  • Junaid Odubeko was appointed co-chair of the ABA’s Privacy & Data Security Committee.
  • Kaylie Becker was elected assistant historian for the Women Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association.
  • Ann Cargile and Kim Martin were listed as “Top 50 Women” in Mid-South Super Lawyers for 2022.
  • Gary Howard was appointed vice chair of DRI’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In this role, Gary helped launch the Diverse Rainmaker Mentoring Program for DRI.
  • Bradley’s firm leaders including board members, office managing partners, committee chairs, and practice group leaders participated in a diversity and inclusion training workshop designed to encourage conversations, challenge assumptions and expand thoughts about the subject of diversity.
  • Bradley provided inclusion and diversity training sessions for attorneys.
  • Bradley has developed an internal Diversity Resource Center that includes an extensive list of resources about racial injustice. These tools include movies, documentaries, articles, podcasts, books and more.
  • Discussion groups and panel presentations have focused on exploring issues related to racial injustice and inequality. The goal is to foster important dialogue among Bradley lawyers about systemic racism in America and how the firm can work to build a more inclusive environment internally and expand contributions to communities in the firm’s footprint.
  • In a partnership with The Mississippi Museum of Art’s Center for Art and Public Exchange, Bradley attorneys participated in an Art and Storytelling Workshop. Art can impact culture and society, and the artwork viewed during this insightful program provided a springboard for participants to share their stories about the issues of race, sexual orientation, and other differences that can serve to divide people.
  • Provided a video presentation, “Designing a More Just Future,” presented by Jerry Kang, professor of law at UCLA. The presentation was first shared at the annual meeting of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).

Bradley is committed to supporting a variety of pipeline diversity initiatives directed at recruiting diverse lawyers. In addition to recruiting events, sponsorships, and partnerships, Bradley awards two annual Diversity Scholarships to law students who are traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.

In addition, Bradley engages in significant efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive workforce and culture at the firm. The firm’s efforts include hosting a summer intern program for minority college students and regularly organizing, hosting and participating in programs, seminars and panels aimed at increasing the participation of women and minorities in the legal profession.

Diversity-Focused Recruiting Events

The firm participated in the following diversity-focused recruiting events between January and December 2022:

  • Sunbelt Diversity Program
  • Southwest Black Law Students Association Job Fair
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF)
  • Lavender Law Career Fair
  • Washington University Law 1L Diversity Expo
  • National Black Law Students Association OCI
  • NYU LLM Fair
  • SMU Law 1L Diversity Law Firm Fair
  • Summer associate events – Winn, LGBTQ+, Lawyers of Color

Diversity-Focused Recruiting Initiatives

  • LSAC Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program
  • Participation in the Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program / Civil Liberties Defense Center
  • Member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Participated in the 1L Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Scholars Program
  • Hosted second annual Bessie Young Council Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship
  • Partnered with the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program
  • Hosted a panel discussion on professionalism for the University of Alabama Black Law Student Association

Summer Diversity Internship Program

Bradley also provides paid four to six-week summer internships to diverse college students in order to enhance the education of minority college students who are aspiring attorneys. In looking for our interns, we seek the best and brightest.  Although we expect academic excellence, that is not our sole criterion. We look for students who are well-rounded, display enthusiasm and interest in gaining hands-on experience in the workplace, and demonstrate a desire to learn about the skills and qualities necessary to succeed in both law school and practice. Please apply here.

For more information on Bradley’s Inclusion & Diversity initiatives, please download our Annual Report and Inclusion & Diversity Brochure found in the right-hand column of this page.

Related Insights & Events