Diversity and Inclusion
Phelps believes that clients are best served when we can offer the diverse perspectives found within our communities. Phelps has partnered with local and national minority law organizations, law schools, and with clients and colleagues to build a more diverse and inclusive environment. The Firm’s policy prohibits discrimination based upon race, sex, religion, color, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity and expression, military or veteran status, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, disability, marital status, age, genetic information, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation.
We are Mansfield certified and continue to work to foster inclusivity. The Mansfield Rule has become the standard by which law firms track and measure that they have affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women, lawyers of color, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ lawyers for top leadership roles, senior-level lateral hiring, promotions into the equity partnership and participation in client pitch meetings.
Phelps is actively involved in initiatives throughout our communities that promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion. One such initiative, among others in which Phelps is a law firm member, is the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), an organization comprised of chief legal officers and managing partners from leading corporations and law firms around the United States, dedicated to developing, measuring, and rewarding diversity efforts.
Phelps has held top rankings in a national survey of minority hiring. Minority Law Journal ranked Phelps as having the highest percentage of African-American lawyers four times since 2002 and one of the top three firms in this category for eight years. Multicultural Law Magazine has listed Phelps in the following diversity categories: Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity, Top 25 Law Firms for African-Americans, Top 100 Law Firms for Women, and Top 50 Law Firms for Partners for a number of years.
To read more about our diversity efforts and history click here.
