The Virginia-based law firm was recently recognized by Virginia Lawyers Weekly for its DEI initiatives.
03/20/2024 1:05 P.M.
2 minute read
Spilman Thomas & Battle, an ACA International member company based in Roanoke, Virginia, recently announced it received the Empowering Women Award from Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
“We are honored to be included in the inaugural class of Empowering Women honorees,” said Lori D. Thompson, member in charge of Spilman’s Roanoke office and the firm’s DEI committee chair. “Spilman has shown a strong commitment to supporting and elevating women and other minorities in the legal field, not only in our Virginia office, but throughout the firm’s nine-office footprint.”
The Empowering Women Award is designed to showcase tangible and innovative efforts by law firms to advance women attorneys in the workplace and community. Firms being honored have a track record of recruiting, hiring, and promoting women in their organization; offering a mentoring program for women; working toward systemic change in society to combat inequality; promoting women into firm leadership; and/or contributing to advancing the cause of women through outside philanthropic or community endeavors.
“We are committed to diversity and inclusion because it is the right thing to do—not for the accolades—but it is great to be recognized for this commitment nonetheless,” said Tai Shadrick Kluemper, Spilman’s director of diversity recruitment & development. “We know a diverse workforce creates competent, innovative, solution-oriented teams that serve our clients’ needs and deliver the best outcomes.”
The firm recognizes and accommodates diverse work styles to support personnel in pursuit of work-life balance. Attorneys can choose from a variety of practicing roles/statuses to balance professional expectations and demands with individual preferences and lifestyle needs.
Spilman also offers a Women’s Initiative (WIN) program. This includes relationship-building and mentoring, as well as regular lunch-and-learn meetings in which women across the firm share insights with their colleagues on topics such as practice development, work-life balance and career growth.
Spilman also participates in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and is actively pursuing a Mansfield Rule certification. More information on Spilman’s commitment to diversity here.
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