Carrington Coleman is committed to fostering a welcoming environment where its entire workforce can thrive. This matters to us—not only to create a working environment where all members of our team feel they have a place they can succeed, but also to ensure we are providing our clients with the best work product possible by incorporating input from those with varied experiences, backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. The term “diversity” has been under attack, but used lawfully it means being thoughtful to avoid discrimination, overcome biases, and ensure many qualified voices are heard to enhance legal services. We use the word “inclusion” to mean being aware of who is not speaking up and learning why, breaking down barriers to full participation, and ensuring that all stakeholders’ input is gathered. When we use the word “equity,” we mean the quality of being fair and impartial, which we understand is critical to justice and in accordance with the key principles upon which our country was founded.
Our History
The firm has a history of intention when it comes to making the legal profession accessible to all qualified candidates. In the 1970s, it was one of the first firms in Dallas to hire women attorneys, beginning with the Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn, former Chief District Judge and current Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. One of our founders, Jim Coleman, was honored by the Dallas Women Lawyers Association with the “James E. Coleman, Jr. Her Champion Award,” which is awarded to a male attorney in recognition of his support and dedication to advancing women in the legal profession. In May 2020, Monica Latin was voted by the partnership as the firm’s first woman Managing Partner, a position only held by only 12% of women according to the American Bar Association.
Firm Policy
Carrington Coleman has a policy in place promulgated by its Executive Committee with approval and support of the partnership. Pursuant to that policy, we have an active Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee with membership at the partner, associate, and staff levels. The Committee is open to anyone at the firm who chooses to participate and meets monthly to address strategic initiatives within the firm and in the legal community to welcome everyone and make each person feel valued and empowered to make meaningful contributions to the work. The Committee creates agendas and shares meeting summaries to monitor its progress, ensuring transparency and accountability in its efforts.