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.

 

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.

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 LogoHuman Rights Campaign Corporate Sponsor of 2020 National Virtual Event
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association 2020 Diversity Gala Sponsorship
  • Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity MemberLeadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Magic City Bar Association 2020 Annual Scholarship Banquet
  • Momentum Corporate Sponsorship
  • Magnolia Bar Foundation
  • Mississippi Women Lawyers Association 12th Annual Day of Leadership
  • Human Rights Campaign Nashville Equality Dinner
  • National Association of Women LawyersNashville Pride Sponsorship
  • University of Tennessee College of Law
  • Lipscomb University
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
  • National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers of America
  • Southern Methodist University Black Law Students Association Sponsorship
  • The LGBT Bar LogoSouthern Region of the National Black Law Students Association Regional Convention
  • The University of Alabama School of Law Foundation BLSA Sponsorship
  • Georgia Defense Lawyers Association SEWL Cheetah Sponsorship
  • In 2021, Rob Ford, a partner in the firm's Houston office, became a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Additionally, Alé Dalton and Kya Henley are 2021 LCLD Pathfinders. The following attorneys are prior Fellows of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD): Stephanie Gaston, George Medlock, Jason Mehta, and Junaid Odubeko. LCLD is committed to helping a new and more diverse generation of attorneys ascend to positions of leadership.
  • Junaid Odubeko was accepted to the ABA Section of Litigation’s Diverse Leaders Academy and was appointed co-chair of the Privacy & Data Security Committee of the ABA Litigation Section for the 2022-2023 bar year.
  • Alé Dalton was the winner of the 2022 Nashville Emerging Leader Awards – Legal Services and was selected for the Hispanic National Bar Association’s 2020 Latina Leadership Academy.
  • Gary Howard was recognized with the 2021 Albert H. Parnell Outstanding Chair Award by the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI). As an active member of DRI’s Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, he served as the Diversity Expo Chair in 2018 and as the Diversity for Success Seminar & Corporate Expo Program Chair in 2021.
  • Mike Moore and Trenton Patterson were named to the National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40.”
  • Abba Harris received the Humanitarian Award from the National Association of Women in Construction and was elected president of the Greater Birmingham Chapter.
  • 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
  • Carol Van Cleef and Erin Illman were recognized as “Women Law Firm Leaders” by Bloomberg Law.
  • Ann Peldo Cargile was named among the “2020 Women of Influence” by the Nashville Business Journal.
  • Christina Seanor was appointed to the Mississippi Bar Women in the Profession Committee.
  • Leigh Ann Hodge, Lela Hollabaugh, and Kim Martin have been named to Benchmark Litigation’s list of “Top 250 Women in Litigation.”
  • Monica Dozier was named to the Charlotte Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” and to Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite for 2022.
  • Twenty-three attorneys named to B-Metro’s list of “Top Female Attorneys” for 2022.
  • Dawn Sharff was named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s “Birmingham’s Power 60” for 2022. 
  • Scored a 90 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees.
  • Received the 2022 Gold Diversity Award from the Nashville Bar Association. These awards are aimed at legal-related departments, firms and businesses that have demonstrated outstanding leadership to promote diversity and inclusion through education, innovation, collaboration, development, and mentorship programs within their organizations.
  • Named one of the 2019 “Top 100 Law Firms for Women” by WomenInc, which recognizes law firms that demonstrate inclusive, equitable and sincere commitment to advancing opportunities for women.
  • 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

Bradley regularly participates in diversity-focused recruiting events. Some examples include:

  • 2020 Southwest Black Law Students Association (SWBLSA) Job Fair
  • 2020 National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) OCI
  • 2020 Damali Booker Minority Job Fair
  • 2020 The University of Alabama Black Law Students Association (UA BLSA) Writing Workshop
  • 2020 Houston Bar Diversity 1L Program
  • 2020 Virtual Lavender Law Career Fair
  • 2020 Sunbelt Diversity Program
  • 2020 WashULaw 1L Diversity Expo
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF) Information Sessions
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair Interviews
  • University of Kentucky Black Law Students Association (UK BLSA) Panel Discussion
  • Southeastern Minority Job Fair Panel
  • The Southern Region of Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) Panels

Diversity-Focused Recruiting Initiatives

  • Participated in the 2020 Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship Program/Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) Program
  • Joined the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) and participated in their 1L LCLD Scholars Program
  • Sponsored the 2020 Lavender Law Career Fair
  • Funded a scholarship through the Magic City Bar Association
  • Hosted the second annual Bessie Young Council Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship in December 2020
  • Partnered with the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program (DAPP), which is a program that aims to diversify the legal profession by expanding opportunities for women of color law students to secure summer positions at law firms and corporations following their first year of law school

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.