Diversity Initiatives
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP values and promotes diversity in the workplace, the profession and the community. Dinsmore & Shohl LLP sponsors and participates in a variety of programs, that assist minority and women law students seeking both summer and full-time employment. The firm’s attorneys also devote many volunteer hours to both minority law programs and community service.
A Diversity Committee has been established at the firm. The committee has developed a strategic plan that is reviewed annually.
A sampling of the firm’s efforts in these areas include:
The Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Workforce
Over the last 15 years, 91 minority attorneys have joined the Firm. In the last few years, nearly 25 percent of summer hires have been minority students. Two women serve on the Firm’s board of directors and practice management committee. Today, 50 women are partners and 70 are associates. The Corporate Department is chaired by a woman and women chair three Firm committees.
Our Recruitment efforts include participating in Minority Job Consortiums, hosting and attending receptions for minority law clerks and students and conducting on-campus interviews at predominately African-American law schools.
The Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Women’s Leadership Forum promotes the firm’s women attorneys in the community while addressing issues that may be exclusive to them; the Dinsmore & Shohl Leadership Academy provides professional development for all associates.
The Law Profession Dinsmore & Shohl LLP participates in the BLAC-CBA Round Table (Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Bar Association). One of the firm’s minority partners serves as co-chair of the BLAC-CBA Round Table Recruiting Committee. Dinsmore & Shohl LLP also participates in the Cincinnati Clerkship Plan Program. The Clerkship plan is a commitment by many of Cincinnati's major law firms and corporations to hire at least one first year minority law student each summer.
The BLAC-CBA recognized Dinsmore & Shohl LLP’s efforts to promote diversity in the legal profession by presenting Dinsmore with the "Forward Together Award".
Each year the firm organizes a mock interview program for first year minority law students from the University of Cincinnati and The Salmon P. Chase School of Law at Northern Kentucky University.
Michael Hawkins and
Michael Newman received awards from the Black Lawyers Association of Cincinnati for creating the Sherman Scholarship, which is presented to a minority law student at The Salmon P. Chase School of Law who will work in public service upon graduation.
Sarah Ghiz Korwan represented the firm at the 2006 Minority Corporate Counsel Association's annual meeting.
Colin Hugh Lindsay serves on the Diversity Task Force of the Louisville Bar Association. Among other initiatives, the Task Force awards an annual scholarship to a minority law student, and makes its annual Trailblazer Award to an individual who has contributed to diversity in the profession.
The Community Dinsmore & Shohl LLP’s community relations efforts focus on community youth activities, including education and assistance programs for a diverse cross-section of children in the 10 cities where our attorneys work and live.
Calvin D. Buford managed the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's Minority Business Accelerator. The Business Accelerator creates opportunities for minority owned companies to do business with the many major corporations in the area through joint ventures and mergers.
Jon L. Fleischaker received the 2006 Meritorious Service Award from the Louisville Branch of the NAACP for providing many hours of pro bono legal services in the area of First Amendment/Open Records Requests.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP supports minority fundraising events, such as the National Black Law Students Association Midwest Region Convention and the BLAC-Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP was a sponsor of the Muhammad Ali Center's Grand Opening Gala in Louisville, Kentucky. The mission of the Muhammad Ali Center is to preserve and share the legacy and ideals of Muhammad Ali, to promote respect, hope, and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP sponsored the Diversity Program for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's C-Change leadership program. C-Change is designed to provide business connections for young professionals and established leaders in the Cincinnati business community.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is a sponsor of the First Tee Program. The organization's mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. The firm also supports the organization by providing program volunteers.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP collaborates with the Otto Armleder School in Cincinnati providing educational programming, mentoring and financial assistance.
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP will continue its efforts to create an inclusive environment where all individuals are valued, in our workforce and in the communities in which we work.