Bobby Codjoe Emphasizes Importance of Hiring DEI Professionals to Improve Law Firm Culture

Bobby Codjoe, Morrison Cohen’s Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, published an article in Westlaw Today entitled “DEI Professionals Bring Expertise and Results as Challenges Become Increasingly Complex.” In it, he discussed the importance of, and reasons for, having a dedicated professional to lead efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion at law firms.

Bobby explained that while law firms nationwide have acknowledged the need for greater inclusivity and some have created advisory groups, committees or DEI trainings, those strategies “are not the best way to address the comprehensive and multifaceted challenge of effective DEI in the law firm space.” Instead, he said that a more “valuable approach that is likely to lead to long-term results is to hire a dedicated DEI professional to lead the charge.”

Advantages to hiring a DEI expert include: in-house subject matter knowledge, rather than tasking an employee with additional DEI responsibilities; showing that DEI is truly a firmwide priority, not just a box-checking exercise; aligning with the rising expectations of clients and prospective talent; the guidance of someone who can identify measurable variables and set milestones when shaping strategy.

In conclusion, Bobby stated, “DEI experts can help improve a law firm's culture from the inside out. They can help firms transform their DEI objectives from spoken values to a living, actionable system. As the global legal market continues to evolve, embracing DEI as a firmwide priority is not just a choice but a necessity for long-term success.”

Read the full article here.