Virginia Lawyers Weekly VA Lawyers Weekly
The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, or LCLD, recently honored more than 100 members with the 2021 Top Performers and Compass Awards.
The Top Performer award recognizes organizations in the top 20% in participation in LCLD programs and activities, while the Compass award recognizes individuals and organizations that fulfill four award requirements in a calendar year.
In 2021, 105 members received the Top Performer award and 107 individuals received the Compass award. Sixty organizations received both awards, which the LCLD says is “a rare distinction recognizing the most active members.”
A Nov. 10 press release from the LCLD noted a 40% increase in Top Performer award winners this year than in 2020. Richmond attorney and LCLD President Robert Grey said part of the reason for the increase is due to the increased use of virtual events which “opened the door for more people to participate.”
“To give the members credit, even though we put more things on a virtual platform, they still had to come and participate,” Grey said. “We wanted to acknowledge the fact that even in this sort of strained and challenging period, we had a substantial level of participation among members.”
Grey added that the awards serve as a way of recognizing those that choose to participate in the LCLD and encourage members to be as involved with the organization as possible.
“We think that the more they put in, the higher the return on their investment, and we think it gives their women and minority lawyers a greater level of opportunity and access to the things that are going to make them successful in their careers,” Grey said.
The full list of Top Performer and Compass Award winners is available on the LCLD’s website, along with a slide presentation recognizing the honorees.
The LCLD was founded in 2009 with the goal to “create a truly diverse U.S. legal profession” through programs meant to both attract and promote minority talent within the legal field. The Richmond-based nonprofit currently has 350 members, ranging from corporations to private practice firms.
