The North Carolina Bar Association's Minorities in the Profession Committee
The firm is a participating employer in the 1L Summer Associate Program.
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Diversity & Inclusion
Inclusion Builds the Foundation for Diversity
At Poyner Spruill we are committed to supporting the advancement of diverse attorneys, actively recruiting diverse persons, and participating in bar associations and community activities that advance inclusiveness and diversity in the legal profession and the communities in which we live and work.
Diversity has always been a key element of our strategic vision. For our multifaceted legal practice, diversity and inclusion within the firm is important to the quality of legal work and client service we provide.
“Promoting inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunity is fundamental to our collective success and the success of our clients. The varied backgrounds and experiences of Poyner Spruill’s attorneys and staff enable us to find strength in our differences, attract and retain talented and creative people, and promote innovative solutions for our clients.”
Dan Cahill, Managing Partner
Partnering In Support
Organizations Supporting Diversity
We work closely with local minority bar associations and other organizations supporting diversity including:
The Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship program
The firm partners with corporations to provide summer clerkship experience to diverse attorneys.
The Diversity Committee of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
Women Givers of Nash/ Rocky Mount
Poyner Spruill is a founding member of this philanthropic group, focused on promoting charitable support of women and children.
Wilson Family YMCA
The firm is a partner in their mission of supporting diversity through scholarship programs.
Pro bono asylum practice
Poyner Spruill attorneys support this mission for individuals and their families, who, without asylum in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security, face serious persecution in their home countries.
NCSU college of Management
We serve as professional mentors, within the course (M100) designed to educate students on diversity in the workforce and encourage their participation in and understanding of diversity-related initiatives.
International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC)
The firm supports this organization, which is the first international professional association dedicated to enhancing the professional status of women in all disciplines of insolvency and restructuring.
A Better Wake
Poyner Spruill is continuing its efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusivity by extending the conversation into efforts to dismantle systemic racism. A newly launched initiative, A Better Wake, seeks to gain community members, organizations, businesses, and the community-at-large to commit to dismantling systemic racism.
“Where and how we recruit is key. As a group we make sure to interview in a variety of places, through various programs, in pursuit of the best legal talent.”
Sarah Difranco, Charlotte-based partner and member of the Summer Associate Hiring Committee
In addition to recruiting from a large and inclusive body of organizations, the firm regularly serves as a sponsor for conferences, meetings, scholarships, and retreats focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, such as:
- Regional conferences and academic retreats for the Southern Region of the National Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) and local and North Carolina university BLSA chapters;
- Programs geared toward increasing diversity in private practice, including “In Defense of Diversity: The Critical Role of White Male Partners,” co-sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys;
- The North Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities Human Resources Group Roundtable; and,
- The Cheslie C. Kryst Advocacy and Social Justice Law Scholarship at the Wake Forest University School of Law. Cheslie, a beloved colleague who passed away in 2022, was a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. This scholarship is awarded annually to students from underrepresented backgrounds who demonstrate a passion for the pursuit of social justice and civil rights causes after graduation.
The firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee focuses on fostering an environment in which differences are appreciated and valued. The committee includes a member of the Management Committee, the firm’s Managing Partner, a representative from the Associates’ Committee and the Summer Associate Hiring Committee, as well as the Directors of Human Resources and Client Service & Strategy.
Poyner Spruill has more than 25 female attorneys, 2 of whom serve as leaders in our employment law section and 1 of whom serves on our management committee.
Our firm has over 135 years of history in North Carolina, having been formed by the merger of two of North Carolina’s longest standing and most respected law firms.
Our active membership and participation in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) allows our attorneys to participate in the Law School Mentoring Program, a program in which more than 20 of our attorneys mentor diverse students from local law schools.
“We are looking for the best legal talent, both staff and attorneys, who will add to our culture and help make us a stronger firm. We never know where this talent can be found, so we try to involve ourselves with as many programs as we can.”
Nina Long, Director of Human Resources
