The Role of Diverse and Women Attorneys in Employment Law

Maria Lewis, Counsel in the Labor & Employment Group, and DeMaris Trapp, Associate in the Labor & Employment Group, recently authored an article for The Legal Intelligencer on The Role of Diverse and Women Attorneys in Employment Law.  The authors looked at both the pros and cons of intentionally using diverse and women employment attorneys to tackle minority- and gender-specific issues, pointing out that such use has the potential to add value to client service and advocacy, but that same use can also have unintended consequences.  Using discrimination cases as an example, the authors point out that given the protected categories created by anti-discrimination laws, “it is no surprise that discrimination and harassment cases usually involve minorities or women and revolve around emotionally charged disputes among individuals”.  The authors go on to say that as a result, some attorneys who pursue or defend these types of cases may have a “heightened understanding of the perspectives and nuances underlying the dispute, which can be a valuable tool for resolving the disputes or vindicating the client. Accordingly, diverse and women employment attorneys may often be in a unique position to better understand the nature and catalyst of a dispute involving allegations of race or sex discrimination or harassment, as well as the plaintiff's viewpoint on how he or she was aggrieved”. 

To read the article in full, click here.