Q & A with Brett Snyder , about Fostering an Inclusive Workplace
Brett A . Snyder is an attorney in our Washington , D . C ., office and Chair of our BR Pride Affinity Group .
Q : What are your pronouns and what is the relevance of using pronouns ?
A : My pronouns are he / him / his . Sharing your pronouns not only lets others know how you prefer to be addressed but also invites others to share how they would like to be addressed . As an organization , sharing our pronouns demonstrates our firm ’ s openness and inclusion of gender expressions and identity . Following the launch of our Project Pronoun initiative in 2021 , we have seen a continued increase in colleagues across the firm adding their pronouns to firm e-mail signature blocks and an increased dialogue about identity . As the LGBTQ + population grows in the United States and more attorneys openly identify , especially at the summer associate and associate levels , pronoun
identification is a common practice .
Q : The firm increased its practicing attorney LGBTQ + representation by more than 30 percent in 2023 . To what do you attribute that growth ?
A : I attribute this welcomed growth to several factors . First , our firm has proactively maintained our ranking in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation ’ s annual Corporate Equality Index as an “ Equality 100 Leader in LGBTQ + Workplace Inclusion .” In December 2023 , even with elevated criteria , we received a perfect score on the Index for the eighth consecutive year . This is a recognition that potential candidates look for when vetting law firms . Second , we have made a concerted effort to increase the firm ’ s visibility with LGBTQ + -related nonprofit organizations with which our firm and colleagues provide pro bono and community service . These include Whitman Walker Health , SAGE , Bet Tzedek , and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund , to name a few . Third , we have hosted a networking reception that has grown in popularity year over year at the National LGBTQ + Bar Association ’ s Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair , raising our firm ’ s profile with the legal LGBTQ + community . Lastly , we have made enhancements to our BR Scholars program over the past couple of years and our Scholars have referred their colleagues to apply , so we are seeing higher demand and an increase in applications
across all cities where we recruit year over year .
Q : One of BR Pride ’ s focus areas has been to partner with the National LGBTQ + Bar Association . In what ways have we partnered with the organization and what has been the impact ?
A : We have enjoyed a multi-dimensional relationship with the National LGBTQ + Bar Association and its consulting arm , DEI Consulting Practice . Last year , DEI Consulting Practice reviewed our relevant internal policies — including those touching on sexual orientation and gender identity issues — and made suggestions based on best practices , many of which were implemented . They also provided a training for firm leadership on LGBTQ + inclusion , with a focus on sexual orientation and gender identity . In addition , they led a discussion in a BR Pride meeting about the benefits of being visible in your organization .
Additionally , we continue to participate in the National LGBTQ + Bar Association ’ s Lavender Law Conference . Each year , we send attorneys to the conference and host a booth at the Law Student Job Fair where we collect resumes and conduct interviews as a complement to the firm ’ s on-campus interviewing program .
Q : What are some ways allies are involved with BR Pride ?
A : Allies of the LGBTQ + community within the firm are active members of BR Pride . They participate in our education programs , Community Impact projects , and employee engagement efforts , and attend events . Allies often bring their clients to BR Pride events .
Q : What are BR Pride ' s goals for 2024 ?
A : Over the past few years , BR Pride has been implementing our group ’ s strategic plan and establishing a framework of activities throughout the year . This year , in addition to building on that framework , we hope to do more outreach to law school LGBTQ + organizations and to offer more quality programming .
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