As part of Kutak Rock’s ongoing commitment to improving inclusiveness and diversity in the firm and the legal industry as a whole, a team of firm attorneys attended Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) leadership events this year, culminating in Washington, D.C. the week of September 18-23.
Spokane attorney Sarah Elsden and Tallahassee associate Michelle Rigoni were chosen to participate in the LCLD Pathfinders Program, a seven-month professional development program designed to train early-career attorneys in critical career development strategies including leadership and the building of professional networks. Throughout 2022, both Ms. Elsden and Ms. Rigoni participated in an extended series of virtual advice and informal networking events hosted by LCLD Alumni, as well as live, virtual follow-up sessions. The program culminated with an in-person meeting in Washington, D.C. September 18-20. Ms. Elsden and Ms. Rigoni are now part of the LCLD Alumni Program and remain committed to advancing diversity and cultivating other leaders at Kutak Rock.
The LCLD Fellows Program was created in 2011 to identify, train, and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession with a focus on mid-career lawyers. The goal of this program is to provide Fellows with professional and personal development opportunities, leadership training, relationship-building opportunities, and access to LCLD members. The Fellows Program is designed to supplement training initiatives already in place at LCLD member organizations like Kutak Rock. Kansas City Partner Anna Berman was chosen as Kutak Rock’s 2022 Fellow.
Kutak Rock Chair John Petr, a member of LCLD and its Leaders at the Front movement, attended the 13th Annual LCLD Membership Meeting September 23 in Washington, D.C. along with Vice Chair Hilary Jackler and Director of Strategic Focus and Inclusiveness and Diversity Kim McKelvey. Titled “Transforming Tomorrow,” the event featured keynote speakers, interactive table discussions, awards and leadership presentations.
LCLD is comprised of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners with a common goal to build a more open and diverse legal profession. Their action programs are designed to attract, inspire, and nurture the talent in society and within our organizations, thereby helping a new and more diverse generation of attorneys ascend to positions of leadership.