In the not-so-distant past, say three to five years ago, it was close to unheard of to have a law firm compose a political PR strategy. Now, on a global scale, law firm leaders have found themselves increasingly speaking out on issues ranging from George Floyd’s death and the Black Lives Matter movement to defending the right to vote. Today, speaking out on these world issues have extreme ramifications such as a law firm’s ability to hire and keep clients as notable action to speak out is called for.

As the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death is upon us, law firms’ intentions behind their commitments to diversity, as well as their related actions, will be looked at. Their actions and promises will be scrutinized for measurable and quantifiable outcomes by their staff, potential hires and clients. And if you haven’t already, you must have ongoing internal discussions about how to approach this, because sitting on the sidelines is not a realistic option and widely noted. This is not the time to remain silent. The media keeps lists and is publishing which firm is doing what, and clients are demanding transparency.