We believe in fostering an inclusive community where every individual is valued and empowered to contribute, creating a vibrant environment that enriches our collective experience.
Dedicated to continuously building and maintaining an inclusive, diverse workforce.
Our firm actively recruits talented attorneys and staff with wide-ranging backgrounds to complement our strengths and contribute to the firm’s future at the highest levels. We aim to reflect the diversity of the clients and communities we serve and the diversity of the judges, jurors, and other individuals in the jurisdictions in which we practice.
SMB Secures Mansfield Rule Certification
Our ideals have always aligned with Mansfield’s stated goal of opening the door wider to a broader pool of qualified talent, and that is why the firm has achieved Mansfield Certification for 2023–2024, and has reaffirmed its commitment to obtaining Mansfield Certification for 2024–2025. Our participation in this data-driven process has confirmed what we have always known – that the firm is and always will be committed to giving meaningful consideration to historically underrepresented individuals in the legal industry, while at the same time retaining the firm’s merit-based hiring and advancement process, and steadfastly avoiding making any employment decision based on a particular demographic trait.
Acknowledged by clients for our continuous dedication to DEI
Many clients have recognized SMB for its efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Recently, SMB was also included in Constellation’s 2024 DEI Honor Roll. This Honor Roll acknowledges important business partners for their initiatives in establishing and advancing DEI policies in the workplace, as well as for including diverse employees in key roles on account teams.
Advocating for Diversity in the Legal Profession
SMB has proudly supported a variety of organizations and associations over the years, including the Minority Corporate Counsel, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Cabrini Green Legal Assistance, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, CARPLS, and the Defense Research Institute. Additionally, firm attorneys are active members of several organizations, such as the Cook County Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, the Black Men Lawyers’ Association, and the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.