Diversity
Statement of Principle
We value highly the varied perspectives and experiences which are found only in a diverse workplace. Our firm recognizes that diversity produces a broader and richer environment which results in more effective and creative business solutions for the firm and its clients.
How We Achieve Diversity
Maintaining and expanding the diversity of the firm's attorneys and staff is a central tenet of the firm's Diversity Policy and is being achieved through:
- The Firm Diversity Officer – Over three years ago the firm established an executive level position dedicated to Diversity.
- Recruitment – The firm actively recruits from a diverse attorney and staff pool.
- Retention – The firm maintains an effective orientation program and mentoring practices for all new attorneys and staff; and flexible work arrangements programs.
- Work Assignment – The firm ensures that all attorneys and staff receive challenging work assignments and that all attorneys receive client exposure opportunities consistent with their demonstrated skill and ability.
- Firm Leadership – The firm seeks to involve a diverse group in firm leadership and management.
The Firm's Diversity Officer
The firm established the position of Diversity Officer to coordinate (among other things):
- Community outreach and research to ensure that the firm's diversity commitment regularly evolves to reflect best practices.
- Reviewing and monitoring the firm's efforts to enhance diversity with an emphasis on recruitment, retention and advancement of a diverse workforce and superior client service.
- Facilitating opportunities for diversity training among all employees.
- Facilitating the firm's participation in and support of external diversity initiatives among our clients, the legal profession and our surrounding community.
Diversity Programs and Sponsorship
Diversity Luncheon - Black History Month
On January 18, 2010, the firm held its Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Luncheon. Tracey King, a legal assistant at Franczek Radelet, presented her original poem, So We May Know (Remember The Covenant). |
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A Long Walk Home was created by two sisters, Scheherazade and Salamishah Tillet when Scheherazade learned that her older sister, Salamishah, was a violent crime survivor. Scheherazade began photographing and documenting the impact of the incident in Salamishah’s life. Eventually, Salamishah and Scheherazade decided to help more people heal from their experiences as violent crime victims by transforming this intimate photography project into the multimedia performance, SOARS (Story Of A Rape Survivor). Given the positive feedback of SOARS and the high incidents of violence that women and children experience everyday, Schehehrazade and Salamishah founded A Long Walk Home in 2003, and developed comprehensive anti-violence programs that use the visual and performance arts as vehicles for healing, social change and education.
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The firm is a sponsor of the National Museum of Mexican Art's Cinco De Mayo Gala. Located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, the National Museum of Mexican Art is the nation's largest Latino arts institution and the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. Its mission is to stimulate and preserve knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture through sponsoring events and exhibitions that exemplify the rich variety of visual and performing arts in the Mexican culture; to develop a significant permanent collection of Mexican art; to encourage the professional development of Mexican artists; and to offer arts education programs. |
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The firm sponsored the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund ("MALDEF") 28th Annual Chicago Awards Gala at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Texas, MALDEF is the leading nonprofit Latino litigation, advocacy and educational outreach institution in the United States. Its mission is to foster sound public policies, laws, and programs to safeguard the civil rights of the 45 million Latinos living in the United States and to empower the Latino community to fully participate in our society. |
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In 1979, dedicated contractors who clearly recognized the need to create a foundation advocating equal participation within construction related fields founded HACIA. HACIA’s programs have contributed to growth and capacity building initiatives enabling each participant to become more competitive within the mainstream of their respective industries. |
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Franczek Radelet is a supporter of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois Scholarship Fund. Over the years, the Fund has awarded dozens of scholarships and summer fellowships to deserving minority and women law students. It is through the support of firms like Franczek Radelet that HLSF is able to provide critical financial assistance that helps students achieve their goals. Many recipients have become judicial law clerks, attorneys in large law firms, government attorneys and in-house counsel as well as leaders in charitable and civic organizations. |
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Franczek Radelet Lawyers speak on Diversity in Law Firms
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Franczek Radelet is a corporate sponsor of
Franczek Radelet is proud to be a corporate sponsor of
Franczek Radelet is a proud sponsor of the
Franczek Radelet is proud to support 
Diversity Luncheon - Black History Month and Inauguration
Franczek Radelet was a proud supporter of the 30th Annual
