Diversity and Inclusion
Varnum’s tradition and culture strongly support valuing differences. More than ten years ago, Varnum established a Diversity Team with a mission of developing and implementing strategies for enhancing the firm’s culture toward an awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diversity.
In addition to the firm’s historical efforts, some of which are documented here, we recently strengthened our commitment with the adoption of the Varnum Diversity and Inclusion Principles, a comprehensive strategy to continue building diversity into the fabric of the firm.
Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council
Among the principles are the establishment of the Varnum Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, which provides input regarding the firm’s recruiting, retention and educational efforts. The Council is made up of 14 business and community leaders of various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Its purpose is to strengthen the firm’s commitment to a culture that values racial diversity and inclusion by providing a variety of perspectives.
The Diversity and Inclusion Principles also include the establishment of two diversity scholarships created to provide encouragement and support of greater ethnic and racial diversity in the legal profession, and the expectation that all Varnum attorneys devote a meaningful number of hours each year to diversity and inclusion activities.
Recognition and Awards
In 2008, Varnum was named "Law Firm of the Year" by Michigan State University College of Law Diversity Services Office & the Wolverine Student Bar Association/NBLSA. Varnum received the award for "making extraordinary strides to diversify the legal profession and support MSU College of Law diversity initiatives by providing financial assistance and career opportunities for its diverse students."
In recognition of Varnum’s efforts to support the minority business community on many fronts, Varnum was named "Advocate of the Year" in 2004 by the Minority Business Council of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes that the firm not only represents women- and minority-owned businesses but also supports many community organizations dedicated to improving the business climate for minorities.
Varnum also received the 2004 Employer Recognition Award given by the Grand Rapids Women’s Resource Center. This prestigious award recognizes that we have created an environment in which women and minorities can grow, contribute and succeed.
Recruiting
Recognizing the advantages of a diverse environment, Varnum has made a determined effort to recruit women and minorities at all levels of the firm. Recruiting and retaining women and minorities is a firm-wide commitment exemplified in our hiring program.
In 2008, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and Michigan Lawyers Weekly named Varnum the "21st Century Innovator of the Year" in recognition of the firm’s outstanding efforts in recruiting and retention. Varnum took the top award out of 21 finalists across the state.
Varnum’s recruiting efforts include contribution to minority-focused scholarship programs such as the GVSU Minority Scholarship Program, the Floyd Skinner Bar Association’s Minority Scholarship Program, the United Negro College Fund, the University of Michigan Black Law Students Alliance (BLSA), and the University of Michigan Latino Law Student Association (LLSA). The firm has also provided scholarships to Native American Law Student Association (NALSA) students to attend a national Indian Law conference.
The majority of our new associates are hired from our Summer Associate Program. In addition to recruiting from law schools with diverse student populations, Varnum attempts to further reach minority students for this program by participating in projects sponsored by campus organizations such as the LLSA, the BLSA, the NALSA, and the Women Law Students Association. The firm has also supported and participated in the Grand Rapids Bar Association Minority Clerkship Program since its inception in 1990.
Efforts like these have contributed to a solid representation of women and minorities in the summer program.
Retention
Varnum recognizes that each person is an individual with unique needs. Those might include raising children, caring for aging parents, participating in community activities, coping with illness, and more. Varnum makes it possible for all its employees to address those issues while also being valued and successful employees in their chosen fields.
We believe this contributes to increased job satisfaction which results in a high level of retention. Associate attorneys are able to accrue hours toward partnership status even while working part time.
Varnum’s commitment to work/life balance is reflected in the strong showing of women employees at the firm. In addition to 31 women attorneys (about 20 percent of the firm’s total attorney population), women play a strong role in other key positions at the firm. Of Varnum’s 31 support professional positions, 15 are filled by women. Of the firm’s seven administrative positions, three are filled by women.
Community Contribution
Within local minority communities, Varnum regularly supports numerous organizations with volunteer efforts, monetary contributions, and sponsorships. Among the entities that have received Varnum’s support are the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Latin American Services, the Women’s Resource Center, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Minority Business Committee, the Grand Rapids Urban League, the Grand Rapids Branch NAACP, and United Way Project Blueprint.
We regularly partner with and support the Woodrick Institute in their Healing Racism programs, the Asian Professional Organization, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Celebration and the Grand Rapids Bar Association’s Diversity Committee. The firm helped establish the Multiracial Association of Professionals (MAP) by providing seed money and donating legal services including drafting and filing articles of incorporation, preparing corporate bylaws, and working with the IRS to secure tax exempt status. The firm continues to be involved in MAP, which is now under the auspices of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
Perhaps most importantly, our attorneys are personally involved in many community organizations with the express purpose of supporting women and minorities. In addition to firm support of such organization as the Kent and Ottawa Summits on Racism, Women’s Resource Center events, and the Grand Rapids Branch NAACP, Varnum attorneys have leadership positions in the ACLU, Grand Rapids Urban League, the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance, and the YWCA.
Our commitment to diversity is solid and the ways in which we grow and support a diverse workforce are on-going. We recognize that as we support the minority community, we as a firm benefit as well, and we are committed to the continued exploration of diversity initiatives.