For decades, Murtha Cullina lawyers and staff have served as champions of diversity, equity and inclusion within the firm, the legal profession and our communities.
Within the Firm
Murtha’s longstanding commitment to strengthening our DEI efforts inside the firm begins with recruiting, retaining and promoting minority and women lawyers and staff from all backgrounds.
With the support of our Executive, Recruiting and Associates Committees, Murtha’s DEI Committee fortifies our inclusive culture by planning and hosting events throughout the year that celebrate the achievements of diverse groups and shine the light on inequities they continue to face.
Our leadership reflects our commitment to diversity. We have had two women and a minority serve as managing partner of the firm since 2009. Half of the attorneys who comprise our department chairs are women, four of our seven administrative directors are women or minority and our chief operating officer is a woman. In addition, at least one woman has been a member of our Executive Committee since 2009.
Within the Legal Profession
Recognizing the need to advance diversity in the legal profession, Murtha joined a group of concerned lawyers in 2003 to form what is now known as the Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity (LCD). As a founding member of the organization, we helped unite the resources of the region’s leading corporations, public sector entities, law firms, law schools and state bar associations to accelerate authentic change within the profession. We continue to advance LCD’s mission by participating in outreach activities, educational programs and networking events that foster inclusivity through engagement and understanding.
We earned an A rating from Above the Law in recognition of our gender diversity efforts.
In addition to being one of the first firms to take the Connecticut Bar Association’s Pledge of Gender Equity, Murtha lawyers also play active roles in the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association and the South Asian Bar Association.
Within our Communities
Murtha’s DEI commitment includes initiatives that reach far beyond our firm and legal colleagues to make a positive impact within the larger community. Several years ago, we established Women Expanding Business (WEB) to encourage, promote and support the professional development of women at our firm and in the business community. We were a founding member of the Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities (CABO), the state’s first gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) chamber of commerce.
Murtha lawyers and staff also make a difference in our communities by volunteering their time, talent and leadership skills to make a difference in the lives of underserved minorities, immigrants and people in need.
Our internal DEI initiatives include:
- February: Black History Month
- March: Women's History Month
- May/June: Women Expanding Business
- June: LGBTQ
- September: Implicit Bias training
- November: firm retreat DEI presentation
Our external DEI activities include:
- Young Lawyers of Color - career path panel discussion
- LCD Summer Internship Program
- LCD Mentorship Program
- Expanded platform of recruitment to affinity groups to attract minority candidates
Contact Dana Bucin, Murtha's diversity chair, for more information about our diversity initiatives.
