Over the years, Montgomery McCracken has sponsored and hosted many diversity initiatives within the Greater Philadelphia legal community. Below are some recent examples:
- The United Way - Women's Way Annual Event
- The William Way LGBT Community Center's Annual Indigo Ball
- The Legal Clinic for the Disabled Annual Stroll & Roll Fundraiser
- The Legal Clinic for the Disabled Annual Silent Auction
- The National MS Society Women's Luncheon
- Equality Advocates of Pennsylvania Annual Event
- The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania's Annual Reception &
Awards Banquet
- The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania's Annual Lunar Banquet
- University of Pennsylvania Law School Women's Association Annual Dinner
- Women's Law Project Annual Event
- Bowling for Urban Promise - Urban Promise Academy (Camden, NJ)
- The Association of Black Women Lawyers of NJ Annual Scholarship Jazz Brunch
- Barristers' Association of Philadelphia Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
- White-Williams Scholars Program
- Temple Law LGBT Alumni Association Kick-Off Reception
Montgomery McCracken and the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group
As a founding member of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, Inc. (PDLG), Montgomery McCracken has been a strong proponent of diversity and a leader in the Philadelphia community in achieving greater diversity in the legal profession. PDLG is an organization of leading Philadelphia law firms and corporate legal departments that promotes diversity through programs designed to encourage the professional development and effective mentoring of attorneys, particularly minorities and females.
Montgomery McCracken is pleased to have been a sponsor of the PDLG's Conference on Retention titled, "Get on the Good Foot: Career Ownership Strategies for Diverse Associates." The conference focused on the needs of diverse associates as well as techniques that law firms can employ to retain lawyers from diverse backgrounds in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Attorneys from MMWR attended the 2009 Diversity Luncheon sponsored by The Legal Intelligencer and the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group. The program honored Pennsylvania's leading diverse legal professionals. Key diversity issues were discussed, including recruitment & retention at law firms, challenges in the workplace, breakthroughs that have been made for ethnic groups, women, etc.. The discussion also included how law firms are viewed by General Counsel and outside companies on issues of diversity.
MMWR attorneys also attended PDLG's program, "Let's Not Wait for the World to Change: What Women of Color Can do to Combat Barriers to Advancement". The program featured a panel of successful women lawyers of color who discussed the challenges faced by women lawyers of color as cited by the Catalyst Report.
Pipeline Initiatives at Montgomery McCracken
The Bridges Program (Bridges) is a 12-month internship and training program dedicated to preparing Philadelphia public high school seniors for meaningful careers in professional service firms, health care systems, government agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. With its unique combination of classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and life skills development, Bridges enables urban youth to make a successful transition from school to a professional environment. Upon the completion of high school and the Bridges Program, each graduate begins full-time employment at the organization where he or she interned, or at another participating employer. By launching teenagers on fulfilling career paths and preparing them to be outstanding professionals, Bridges has a life-altering impact on individuals and strengthens the community at large. Montgomery McCracken has hired several Bridges graduates as employees of the firm.
MMWR has long supported the Temple Law School LEAP Mock Trial Program. Firm attorneys volunteer their time to coach a mock trial team from a Philadelphia high school. Since the inception of the program, MMWR teams have won city championships and state championships and have been in the semi-finals most years. Two of the students from previous Mock trial programs are currently in law school.