Diversity

Trailblazer in the legal profession

Directly Supporting Diversity Efforts

We are champions of diversity and inclusion efforts, committed to creating a law firm that is representative of our client base and the community in which we practice law.

Higgs Fletcher & Mack is currently participating in an important diversity and inclusion initiative – Mansfield Rules Certification through Diversity Lab. HFM is one of over 70 firms nationwide who are going through the process of certification for midsize law firms. The Mansfield Rule certification process takes place over 18 months and was created to ensure that participating law firms are deliberate in their diversity hiring and it is specifically designed “to boost the representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for these opportunities.” Even more specifically, the process measures whether firms have affirmatively considered at least 30 percent women, underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ lawyers and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. For more information click here.

There are innumerable ways in which we support local and national diversity efforts, organizations, and pipeline programs. From being a founding law firm for the San Diego County Bar Association’s annual Diversity Fellowship Program and being one of the first signatories to their diversity pledge, to providing sponsorship support to multiple minority bar associations.

HFM supports education, minority retention and recruitment, mentorship programs, and a variety of other diversity initiatives. We host large diversity and inclusion-related annual events, including the San Diego County Bar Association’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion’s annual mixer, Ethnic Relations and Diversity Committee’s Spring Mixer and co-sponsorship of the organization’s annual Dialogue on Diversity event.

HFM is also the proud recipient of the Corporate Diversity Award from the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association, the largest association of African American judges, attorneys, and legal professionals in San Diego. As we begin the next chapter in our 80-year history, we will ensure that diversity and inclusion continue to shape the fabric of our law firm now and into the future.

A Culture of Inclusion

Leaders in our Community

HFM attorneys actively participate in or hold leadership positions in organizations that promote diversity including the San Diego County Bar Association, Lawyers Club of San Diego, the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association, and the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association.

Helping the Next Generation

Scholarships and Support

HFM's diversity scholarship program has awarded nearly $88,500 to law students at the University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law. Additionally, internships and mentor programs provide students with financial support and a hands-on educational experience. After a decade of granting scholarships annually for diverse law students at the University of San Diego School of Law, HFM endowed its Diversity Scholarship in honor of the Firm’s former partner, Craig Higgs. In 2021, the endowment was matched by the University of San Diego’s Board of Trustees’ Horizon Project, multiplying HFM’s endowed investment and increasing the level of annual scholarship support that will be generated by the endowment.

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