Diversity and Inclusion
Where would we be if everyone saw things the same way? There would be no new ideas and no fresh perspectives.
Our Mission
When we talk about diversity and inclusion, we believe it means we must recognize that there is value and strength in the differences among us. Diversity of perspectives and experiences strengthens our ability to address our clients' legal and business needs in a global marketplace. At Ice Miller, we are committed to fostering an inclusive work environment that respects, values and supports individuals of all backgrounds.
Diversity is not just our policy; it's our practice.
Executing Our Mission
We benefit from our diverse leadership. For example:
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One of our managing partners is a female, and two office managing partners are female;
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Several of our Firm committees are chaired by women including the Personnel Committee, the Community Involvement Committee, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Client Engagement Committee, and the Women’s Initiative Committee;
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One of our practice groups is led by a minority male;
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Six of our practice groups leaders are female;
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24% of equity partners are female;
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Three members of the Strategic Planning Committee are female;
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Of the ten partners on the Firm’s Partner Review Committee, four are female and one is a minority male;
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There are openly LGBT attorneys and staff in our Firm;
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The most recent partnership class included three minority partners.
Ice Miller continues to challenge the status quo with forward-thinking hiring and attorney development practices. We believe that diversity in our Firm builds strength.
Our Diverse History
Founding partners Harry Ice and Merle Miller, and partner Alan Nolan were deeply committed to the principles of fairness, equity and inclusion. From the creation of the Indiana affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), working toward the integration of Indianapolis public schools in the 1950s, as well as collaborating with Indiana NAACP attorneys on Brown v. Board of Education, the Firm’s dedication to diversity and inclusion has been an integral part of the Ice Miller fabric for more than 100 years.
With that in mind, we continue our strong commitment toward leading the way and achieving cultural diversity and equal opportunity through the focused efforts of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Strategic Plan
The Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee’s efforts are driven by the Firm's “Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace Strategic Plan” (The Plan). The Plan establishes short and long-term objectives and action steps to achieve our recruitment and retention goals and promote the business case for diversity and inclusion. The Plan requires us to measure and reevaluate our efforts on an ongoing basis. Through a number of internal initiatives, the Firm works to 1) enhance its culture and cohesiveness by communicating the goals of the Plan to the Firm community, thereby increasing our team's awareness of diversity and inclusion issues, and 2) to mentor and train young diverse lawyers throughout their career. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee works with the Personnel Committee and Professional Development Committee to encourage the hiring of diverse individuals, to maintain relationships with community and professional organizations with diversity initiatives, and to provide diversity training to our lawyers and staff. These Committees implement policies, practices and efforts that align with our diversity and inclusion mission.
Women In Leadership
Ice Miller has been a trailblazer in recognizing the talents and contributions of the Firm's female attorneys and is passionately committed to providing leadership opportunities for women. Ice Miller was one of the first major firms in Indiana to elect the first female partner and was the first to elect a female managing partner. Partner Myra Selby was the first female and African American to serve as an Indiana Supreme Court Justice; Partner Mary Larimore was the first woman in Indiana inducted into the American College of Trailblazers; and Partner Brenda Horn served as the first female president of the American College of Bond Counsel.
Ice Miller's senior partners continue to groom our new partners, associates and counsel to be tomorrow's leaders within the Firm and the communities that we serve. Female partners serve in a range of leadership roles, including in Firm governance, as Practice Group leaders, members of internal key committees and as mentors for associates, and we are proud of our accomplishments in developing women as leaders. In addition to the success of our efforts outlined above:
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In 2016, 33% of the Firm’s newly elected partners were female;
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Over 32% of our attorneys are female;
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One of our managing partners is female;
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Two office managing partners are female;
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Our Client Engagement Committee, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Community Involvement Committee, and Women’s Initiative Committee are chaired by women;
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Three women are members of Strategic Planning Committee;
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Three female partners are on the Partner Review Committee.
Furthermore, Ice Miller has been nationally recognized as a firm where women excel as leaders and lawyers. Our accolades include:
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Selected in 2015 and 2016 as one of the 100 best law firms for women based on the firm’s female representation at the partner and non-partner levels, and its total number of female attorneys by Law 360;
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Received 2015 Family Friendly Award from the Ohio Women's Bar Association (OWBA);
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Named one of the “50 Best Law Firms for Women” by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers. This was the seventh time Ice Miller was recognized for its continued attention to family-friendly policies and retaining and advancing women into the leadership pipeline;
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Selected as a 2014 Top Workplace by The Indianapolis Star;
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Ranked third in the nation by American Lawyer Magazine for having the highest percentage of female equity partners among Am Law 200 firms;
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Named a 2012 Top 100 Law Firm for Diversity in Multicultural Law Magazine.
Women’s Initiative Committee
Many law firms form specialized committees to address problems associated with attrition of female attorneys and the lack of professional advancement of female attorneys to partnership. Ice Miller’s tradition is markedly distinct from other firms because our historical practice has always focused on the development of female leaders in the Firm. Our partner-led, Women’s Initiative Group creates professional development, career building, and networking opportunities for female partners and associates. For example, in May 2014, the Women’s Initiative hosted an engaging panel of senior and new female partners who discussed their experiences and observations about their careers and professional development with insight from Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In.
The Women’s Initiative Committee also partnered with Ernst & Young in Columbus, Ohio on a presentation for the Women for Economic and Leadership Development's (WELD) Inaugural Young Professionals’ Series. Female associates and counsel also serve on an advisory group to the Women’s Initiative Committee to help find other opportunities for non-partners.
Giving Back to Our Diverse Communities
Ice Miller's legacy is evident in the programs it supports. We encourage employee volunteer efforts, whether on an individual basis or as part of an Ice Miller team.
Ice Miller donated $100,000 to the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) in 2010 in recognition of our proud history of 100 years of service to its clients and the community. These funds support the community's needs in the areas of hunger, diversity, arts and culture, veterans’ issues, and programming for the disabled/disadvantaged.
Ice Miller attorneys and staff serve on numerous community boards and are actively engaged in programs affecting our diverse community. Some organizations include:
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The Indiana Black Expo, Inc.
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The Indiana Business Diversity Council (IBDC)
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The National Association for Women Business Owners
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Just the Beginning Foundation (JTBF)
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Providence Cristo Rey
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Noble of Indiana
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Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession
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Women for Economic Leadership Development
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Columbus Bar Association
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John Mercer Langston Bar Association
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Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana
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Girls, Inc.
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The Cook County Bar Association
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Lambda Legal
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National Association of Pacific American Bar Association
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The Indianapolis Bar Association
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The Cleveland Bar Association
Our Recruiting Efforts
The Firm values the hiring of a diverse workforce and expanding the pipeline of underrepresented groups. The Firm actively recruits from minority job fairs, historically black law schools, and highly ranked law schools across the country. Ice Miller considers each candidate on an individual basis. In addition to law school performance, the candidate’s interpersonal skills, volunteer work, as well as work experiences are vitally important in each application. The Firm also participates in on-campus educational programs, the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity Diversity (ICLEO), undergraduate leadership programs and minority bar association activities.
Diversity issues are discussed at all levels of the Firm in order to provide a continuous learning environment consistent with our mission. Awareness and training on implicit bias research and the need to hire and retain a diverse workforce has created a broad base of internal support for these efforts.
The Firm also utilizes periodic informal surveys to gather feedback on programs, events, and experiences. The data collected is then discussed by the Committees and is used to create new “best practices,” where appropriate. These surveys have been helpful to identify areas of concern or areas that could be improved upon.
All Firm Committees, Practice Group Leaders, the Director of Human Resources and Director of Legal Personnel and Diversity report results of their efforts to the Managing Partners. Internal and external initiatives such as firm-wide diversity training, leadership and management training, and the development of a meaningful evaluation system and career long mentorship program has increased the overall awareness and importance of diversity at the Firm.
The Coordinating Committee consists of the chairs of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Attorney Evaluation Committee, the Personnel Committee, and the Professional Development Committees, along with the Firm's Director of Legal Personnel and Diversity, and the Manager of Professional Development. The Coordinating Committee meets bi-monthly with a Managing Partner to ensure continued dialogue among groups charged with the development of lawyers. The Coordinating Committee provides a forum for open communication about potential issues and trends, enabling the Firm to spot issues early and take the steps necessary to address concerns, including those issues relating to diversity and inclusion.
The Firm has identified and partnered with a number of national organizations that promote diversity and/or women, and that further our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ice Miller is a member of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's Firm Affiliate Network (MCCA's FAN) and the National Association of Women Business Owners. One of our female partners in our Real Estate group manages the Firm's WBE/MBE Certification Practice where she assists small business owners in obtaining certification as a minority business enterprise, women-owned business enterprise, veteran-owned business enterprise, or disadvantaged business enterprise. Since 2012, Ice Miller has been a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), its Fellows Program, and its 1L Scholar Program. LCLD is a national organization dedicated to developing diverse legal talent. Ice Miller is proud of its vibrant legal environment. Our innovative and collaborative approach to the practice of law leads to new ideas and experiences that enable us to serve our clients better.
To Learn More
Ice Miller is committed to equal opportunity hiring and career advancement regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion or age. If you would like to learn more, please contact our chief human resources officer Carrie Houston at
carrie.houston@icemiller.com.