It's not just a question of talent management, but also how the offices are decorated and what are the parking and seating arrangements, among other examples.

What You Need to Know

• Investment in DEI is critical for law firms of all sizes to stay competitive, according to firm leaders and consultants.

• Even though it can be harder for smaller firms to put as much investment into DEI, their nimbleness and lack of bureaucracy can be part of the solution.

• More than 160 firms participated in the fourth Midsize Mansfield certification cohort.

DEI professionals are focused on a lot more than many may realize.

Amie Santos, Founder and Principal of AKS Advisors, sits down with Bespoke Agency to discuss how her personal and professional experiences shaped her journey.

Santos helmed a global powerhouse law firm's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts from 2015 to 2023.

Now she’s pivoting, launching AKS Advisors to harness her expertise and thought leadership to help corporations and organizations demystify and deepen their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts—with authenticity and growing by facing comfortable truths as focal points. 

As Santos puts it, “This is transformational work,” and the future, and an increasingly diverse world, demands engagement.

The end of affirmative action may prove challenging for leaders dedicated to the difficult task of creating and upholding equitable cultures.

But you can fix it if you do these 8 things, longtime law firm DEI professional Amie Santos explains, sharing her tips on how law firm leaders can truly support their firms' diversity efforts.