Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

What does it take to do work that matters?

Knowledge. Talent. Creativity. Ethics. Passion. And most of all, diversity.

At Robinson Gray, we’re committed to cultivating a diverse team of dedicated attorneys and staff members. Why? Because we believe that having a staff that reflects the community around us is not only crucial to our success but also key to a comfortable, supportive work environment.

This commitment to diversity means that we embrace inclusiveness at all levels of the firm-from hiring and seeking to retain diverse lawyers and employees to celebrating our differences in race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, and religious preference to creating and maintaining an atmosphere that promotes respect.

Robinson Gray Statement on Anti-Racism

 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Coordinator
Ashley Lamb
alamb@robinsongray.com

 

 

 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Team Leader
Beth Richardson
brichardson@robinsongray.com

 

 

 

Noteworthy

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• “In State v. Spears, justices are forced to consider whether a Black man’s race is a factor that should be considered when determining what a reasonable person would do.” La’Jessica Stringfellow summarizes this South Carolina Supreme Court opinion and analyzes the “reasonable person” standard. (July 2020)
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• Robinson Gray Statement on Anti-Racism  (June 19, 2020) ” As we mourn the tragedy of George Floyd and the systemic racism of the last four hundred years, Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte believes there are no excuses for silence and denial. As such, we want to make clear to our colleagues, clients, and friends:

• • • We reject racism in any form.
    • We will continue to educate ourselves and will act individually and collectively on the issues of structural and systemic racism.
    •  We stand in solidarity with the Black community and actively seek a just, equitable, and inclusive society, justice system, legal profession and workplace.

• Dr. Nika White facilitated a Virtual ‘Town Hall’ for our attorneys and staff to share perspectives and questions related to racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement (June 2020)

• Sam Wellborn named Vice Chair of the SC Bar’s Diversity Committee (June 2020)

• Sponsor of Columbia City of Women (March 2020)

• Partnered with Diversity & Inclusion expert Dr. Nika White to assist the firm’s efforts in cultural responsiveness, inclusion, and diversity (2019)

• Beth Richardson received the Diversity & Inclusion Award from SC Lawyers Weekly (November 2019)

• Cal Watson participated in the SC Bar Diversity Committee’s panel discussion on implicit bias at the SC Judicial Conference’s Staff Attorney and Law Clerk Seminar (September 2019)

• Hosted a Friend-Raiser at the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House in Columbia (May 2019)

• Sam Wellborn presented on Diversity & Inclusion at a CLE for the Palmetto Paralegal Association (April 2019)

• Sam Wellborn participated in the S.C. Leaders Forum: A Discussion of Diversity & Inclusion in Law & Business organized by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Bar (April 2019)

• Beth Richardson joined the Midlands Spring 2019 Class of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative (April 2019)

• Sponsor of Columbia City of Women (April 2019)

• “You Are What You Think, So What’s On Your Mind” presentation to staff by Nichole Davis of the South Carolina Bar (April 2019)

• La’Jessica Stringfellow wrote an article for the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association’s publication about Jonathan Jasper Wright, a pivotal figure in South Carolina’s legal history. Wright played an enormous role in South Carolina during Reconstruction. The son of a runaway slave, he was the first African-American in South Carolina to:

• • • Practice law
    • Try a case
    • Serve on the state Supreme Court

  He was also one of the first black state senators, and later helped establish the first law school for African-Americans in the state.
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• Robinson Gray has named Ashley Lamb as it’s first Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator.  Ashley, who has worked for the firm for 15 years, also manages all of Robinson Gray’s human relations matters. Now she will work to make diversity an even more prominent part of the firm’s culture, facilitating education and training for employees, joining external organizations, and continuing financial support for and participation in local associations such as the Black Law Students’ Association and the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association.
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• Sponsor of South Carolina Women Lawyers Association Annual CLE (October 2018)

• Sponsor of “RBG:  An Intimate portrait of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg” movie presentation at the Terrace Theater in Charleston (May 2018)

• “What is Diversity and Inclusion and Why is it Important to the Workplace” presentation to staff by Susan Kuo of the University of South Carolina School of Law  (May 2018)

• Beth Richardson and Paul Hoefer attended “Diversity is a State of Mind” CLE hosted by the South Carolina Bar (March 2018)

• Sponsor of Black Law Students Association at the University of South Carolina School of Law (2018)

• Implementation of the Diversity & Inclusion Five – playing of 3-5 minute Diversity & Inclusion videos created by the South Carolina Bar at our team’s marketing meetings (2018)

• “What is Diversity and Inclusion and Why is it Important to our Workplace” presentation to attorneys by Jackie Cranford (January 2018)

• Formation of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Team at Robinson Gray, members include both attorneys and staff (2017)