Author: jbaro
Alana Ambery (she/her) – 3L at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
By Caleb Simpson What was the first Lavender Law® Career Fair that you attended, and did you find employment as a result? The first Lavender Law® I attended was in the summer of 2021, just before I entered my second year of law school. Before attending the career fair, I was determined to find […]
Soliciting Feedback and Meeting People Where They Are
In my experience as an attorney and LGBTQ+ advocate, I have seen firsthand that the external perception of a law firm can sometimes differ from what is felt internally by its employees. Prior to the start of any consulting work with a law firm client, I recommend offering a survey to as many attorneys and […]
Pride Month Spotlight: Travis Torrence
By Caleb Simpson Travis Torrence currently serves as Global Litigation Bankruptcy & Credit Team Lead at Shell USA, Inc., managing a team of attorneys and legal support professionals who handle all bankruptcy and credit legal issues for all of Shell’s business units in the United States and Canada. Within Shell he serves as a member […]
Supporting Trans Employees
Q: Is your Gender-Inclusive Workplace Policy up-to-date? A: Over the past decade, it has been heartening to see the increasing number of workplaces that have adopted policies to support people undergoing gender transition in the workplace. Historically labeled, “Transition Guidelines” or “Transgender Policies,” these “Gender-Inclusive Workplace Policies” are widely adopted by legal employers to support […]
Stephen T. Kulp
By Caleb Simpson Stephen Kulp has shown tremendous success in his career while providing substantial ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community in and out of the legal profession. Kulp earned his B.S. in Political Science and J.D. at Drexel University in a joint accelerated degree program. He recently joined Tucker Law Group in Philadelphia as […]
Barriers to Success: The Importance of Equitable Access for Low-Income Legal Professionals
Q: How does the LGBTQ+ Bar ensure that everyone has access to Lavender Law® Conference & Career Fair? A: Since its inception in 1988, the Lavender Law® Conference & Career Fair has served as a ‘family reunion’ for LGBTQ+ and allied legal professionals to both look back at our shared history and to look forward to the […]
Zach Brecheisen
By Emily Coneybeare Zach Brecheisen walked into Lavender Law® in 2011 feeling he was at a disadvantage as a 3L. But after facing a hurricane and flooding that canceled his flight to the conference, he knew he would take on anything to reach his goals. Today, he is a corporate partner at Jones Day, a […]
Getting Comfortable With LGBTQ+ Issues
Q: What do you find has been key to successful retention of LGBTQ+ talent? A: One key to recruiting and retaining LGBTQ+ talent is making sure everyone in the workplace is fluent, familiar, and comfortable with LGBTQ+ issues. As Thompson Hine Partner and LGBTQ+ Bar Board Member Marla Butler says in this video, “It was very important […]
The Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association
By Caleb Simpson We are delighted to promote the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association in our monthly spotlight blog series! One of the first state affiliate organizations of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association was founded in 1985 to provide LGBTQ lawyers a visible presence within the Massachusetts legal community. The organization […]
Best Practices for Inclusive Restrooms
Q: What are best practices for law firms when it comes to bathroom policies? A: Here are three core principles for ensuring inclusive restrooms. 1. Ensure that all single-stall restrooms are designated “all-gender.” A growing number of jurisdictions legally mandate such signage on any single-stall restroom, including NYC, DC, and San Francisco, but we recommend […]