Woods Rogers is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion at every level. We recruit, hire, promote, and retain a diverse team of attorneys and staff. As counselors of the law, living out the tenets of justice is what we do. Our JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion) Committee is dedicated to reinforcing these core values within the firm and within the communities we serve.
Core Philosophy
Ours is an exceptional firm, and our people are the commonality. Our bios aren’t just accolades and credentials. They’re living, breathing representations of the people who shape this place and empathy courses throughout all of it.
Our workplace is a collaborative environment that encourages employees to build great teams and find creative solutions to legal issues. We respect the unique experiences that come from our own backgrounds and those of our clients. Every case or legal issue presents more than one perspective, which is precisely why diversity and inclusion are essential in helping our clients succeed. Recognizing and understanding different viewpoints helps us provide exceptional client service.
JEDI Initiatives
The JEDI Committee’s work is centered on four key initiatives:
- Training and Education: Cultivating cultural awareness and competency around JEDI principles within Woods Rogers by way of trainings and educational opportunities to expand knowledge and growth.
- Recruiting & Retention: Attracting and retaining diverse attorneys and professional staff and creating and maintaining a vibrant work culture.
- Leadership & Advancement: Ensuring equal opportunity for leadership, promotion, professional development, and advancement.
- Special Events and Community Engagement: Taking our commitment “inside out” and establishing partnerships to foster JEDI principles in our communities.
JEDI in Action
Each JEDI initiative is led by a sub-group of the committee accountable for developing and implementing tactics to achieve a defined set of objectives. The committee reports quarterly to the Woods Rogers Board of Directors to ensure progress on the initiatives and alignment with the firm’s strategic plan.
Current initiatives include:
- Developing ongoing educational opportunities and training programs for staff and attorneys focused on understanding diversity and inclusion, combating biases, and preventing discrimination and harassment.
- As part of recruiting diverse students from top law schools, our recruiting committee works to establish relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and law school groups to encourage diverse applicants to consider Woods Rogers as their future home.
- The JEDI Committee has joined forces with our Corporate and Business Transactions Practice Group to create a program focused on addressing economic, social, and political barriers that women and minorities face when trying to create and launch new business initiatives. These attorneys assist and support minority and women-owned startup businesses who need assistance with entity organization/incorporation.
- As part of JEDI’s community engagement, Woods Rogers supports and participates in local events such as the MLK Day breakfasts, Juneteenth celebrations, and inclusive culture events in all its regional office areas.
