Warner Norcross One of First Law Firms to Sign State Bar of Michigan Diversity Pledge

GRAND RAPIDS, MI, October 02, 2010 (Press-News.org) A longtime leader in the Grand Rapids legal community, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP will be among the first law firms in Michigan to sign the State Bar of Michigan's new Pledge to Achieve Diversity and Inclusion.

Warner Norcross Managing Partner Douglas E. Wagner and Diversity Partner Rodney D. Martin will represent the law firm at a signing reception tonight hosted by the State Bar of Michigan. Warner Norcross is one of several law firms in West Michigan expected to sign the pledge during the event, which will feature comments from Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly and State Bar President W. Anthony Jenkins.

"We are proud to be among the first law firms in West Michigan to sign the diversity pledge," said Martin, who spoke earlier this summer at a workshop where the State Bar of Michigan introduced an initial draft of the pledge. "We congratulate the State Bar of Michigan for its leadership in encouraging the principles of diversity and inclusion within in our profession."

The pledge notes that "diversity and inclusion are core values of the legal profession" that "require a sustained commitment" to achieve. The pledge says that law schools, law firms, judges, bar associations and others in the legal profession "must cooperatively work together" to achieve diversity and inclusion in the "education, hiring, retention and promotion of Michigan's attorneys."

Warner Norcross has a strong and lengthy track record in diversity initiatives, including:
• Establishing and funding scholarship programs to encourage women and minorities to pursue legal studies and a career in the law
• Expanding attorney recruiting efforts to ensure a diverse candidate pool of new associates
• Supporting internal and community education initiatives, including a One Book, One Firm program and a mock trial program for high school students
• Strengthening mentoring programs to ensure that all attorneys have the opportunity to succeed and grow in their practices
• Publishing a Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report, now in its fifth year
Last year, the firm's diversity initiatives received several awards, including the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Diversity Visionary Award, the Alfred P. Sloane for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility and Crain's Detroit Business Annual Diversity Award, among others.

About Warner Norcross & Judd
Warner Norcross & Judd is a corporate law firm with 220 attorneys practicing in six offices throughout Michigan: Grand Rapids, Holland, Lansing, Muskegon, Southfield and Sterling Heights. The firm has more than 75 practice groups that work in virtually all areas of business and civil law. By providing sound legal advice and alternative billing options, Warner Norcross & Judd forges a better partnership with its clients. To learn more, visit http://www.wnj.com.

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