The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery in 2020 and the ensuing unrest that occurred around the country left us feeling waves of anger, frustration, and sadness. Believing that the Kelley Drye community’s many talents could be leveraged to foster change, the firm established the Task Force on Racial Equality to increase awareness of racism and anti-racism efforts and leverage the talent and energy of the Kelley Drye community to assist in the fight for racial justice.
Recognizing the particular challenges women face in legal careers, in 2008 the firm launched a formal program, Women At KDW, to provide networking, mentoring and learning opportunities for women associates. Our Women Partners Group is equally active, meeting regularly to network, mentor women associates, cross-market, and share business development strategies.
The Kelley Drye LGBTQ Network is an affinity group of friends, allies and members of the LGBTQ community. Open to everyone, the group reflects the firm’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion and to increasing understanding of, and involvement in, the unique issues facing the LGBTQ community.
Kelley Drye’s Diverse Associate Network serves as a forum for racial and/or ethnic minority associates from historically underrepresented groups to promote their careers and professional development by building community, sharing and transferring knowledge, leveraging collective resources, and creating a safe space, empowering participants to achieve career success.
In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, Kelley Drye is proud to offer a Diversity Scholarship to an outstanding second year law student. The Kelley Drye Diversity Scholarship includes a paid summer associate position in our New York office following the second year of law school, and a $25,000 award paid in two installments as a signing bonus – one upon completion of the summer program and the second upon starting as a full time associate at the firm. The application period for the 2022 Diversity Scholarship is now closed.