More than two dozen general counsel, along with five large law firms, are promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives in a first-of-its-kind experimental “laboratory” in which new approaches will be adopted over five years at the five firms. Announced this week, the firms are investing $5 million into the new Move the Needle Fund to support these initiatives. Below is the letter penned by the participating general counsel.

We, the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officers of more than two dozen major companies, want to create a more inclusive and diverse legal profession. Although we’ve worked hard for many years – along with others in our profession – to diversify the pool of talent in law schools, in our own legal departments, and in the law firms that provide outside counsel to us, the needle hasn’t moved far enough fast enough.