Black Lawyers Achieving Success Together

In 2023, Weil hosted Radiating Brilliance, a conference bringing together Asian, Black, Lantinx, and Multiracial attorneys across our U.S. and U.K. offices. The conference was designed to connect attorneys of color across offices and practice groups and provide access to internal and external role models sharing career guidance. The conference featured remarks by Executive Partner Barry Wolf, roundtable discussions with Weil leaders, presentations on professional and business development, and affinity group-specific breakout sessions.

In 2022, Weil hosted the Black Lawyers Achieving Success Together Mini-Conference. Highlights include a client and alumni network reception with performance by the Syncopated Ladies, leadership small group discussions with several members of the Management Committee, and a fireside chat with Weil alum Judge George Hazel.

BLAST members participate in a number of efforts to provide access to role models and mentors across offices, groups, and levels.

• Affinity group specific mentoring circles, which supplement the existing mentoring program for associates who seek additional access to partners as advisors and role models. The circles foster peer mentoring and provide a forum to discuss diversity-related topics at the Firm.
• Mentors Across Borders facilitates Partner and Counsel connections with affinity group members when visiting other Weil office locations. These meetings have ranged from one-on-one coffee meetings to breakfasts or lunches hosted for a larger group of associates.
• Jumpstart is a resource for new and lateral Black associates who are paired with a Black partner and associate to support their transition to the Firm.

Two advisory boards were formed to work with Executive Partner Barry Wolf. One is composed of Black partners, and the other of Black counsel and associates in the U.S. and London. These advisory boards advise on a range of issues of importance to the Firm, including, but not limited to diversity-related topics.

Since 2022, Weil clients and BLAST partners gathered several times throughout the year, including at conferences, intimate Evolve client dinners series and entertainment events such as the Dance Theatre of Harlem as well as pop concerts featuring Janet Jackson and Beyoncé, to foster networking and business development at the leadership level.

In Honor of Black History Month, Weil welcomed Laurie Robinson Haden, Founder and CEO of Corporate Counsel Women of Color, to discuss practical tools and strategies for attorneys of color in conquering limiting beliefs, unlocking individual potential, and thriving in the world of work.

Weil recently welcomed acclaimed Wall Street executive Duane Hughes for a fireside chat with Weil partners Trey Muldrow and Robert Stern centered around optimizing DEI principles to bring in business and enable strong commercial growth.

Weil also held an interactive tour of Harlem’s world-renowned Apollo Theatre led by “Mr. Apollo” Billy Mitchell. Participants received a behind-the-scenes look at the historic venue, including a tour of the Wall of Signatures and items from famous entertainers who performed at the Apollo over the past 109 years.

Weil’s pro bono legal work addresses access to adequate legal representation on a broad range of critical issues, ranging from housing to refugee and asylum matters. Recent examples of Weil’s pro bono work to address racial justice and with a particular impact on communities of color include:

• Make Us Visible, an organization that activates and empowers local communities to build curriculum and advocate for the integration of Asian American contributions, experiences and histories in K-12 classrooms. Weil assisted in exploring, assessing, and entering into a fiscal sponsorship arrangement.
• Weil’s expertise in voting rights litigation is engaged in two major matters in Texas and New York, where low-income communities of color have been stripped of their right to vote.
• Working with Start Small Think Big, the VOLS Microenterprise Program, Ascendus, and other clients and legal services organizations, Weil supports dozens of low-income entrepreneurs, many of whom are people of color, by assisting with business organization and related governance issues. Weil’s pro bono awards are also sourced from BIPOC-owned businesses connected to these NGOs.

For more information, visit the Pro Bono page.

Weil’s multifaceted diversity pipeline efforts aim to increase access and opportunity for first generation and students of color.  Weil has been a longtime supporter of PALS (Practicing Attorneys for Law Students), a nonprofit organization committed to attorney and law students of color, including sponsoring and hosting mock interview and 1L exam writing workshops. Other notable pipeline efforts include longstanding partnerships with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pencil, and Read Alliance.

Additionally, Weil has recently partnered with New York City Urban Debate League (NYCUDL), a non-profit organization that serves 3,000+ students by creating access to debate so that we may raise the next generation of courageous, engaged and informed citizens.

Weil is a supporter of the National Bar Association (NBA), Charting your Own Course (CYOC), Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA), Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) Conference, the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP), the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), Legal Outreach, Legal Defense Fund (LDF), and Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, among many other nonprofit and membership based organizations.