Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons), a preeminent law firm in the Intermountain West, is pleased to announce that in January 2021, the firm achieved certification from the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion (UCLI). UCLI strives to enhance organizational inclusion, facilitate educational opportunities and professional advancement for attorneys with diverse backgrounds; eliminate bias in Utah’s justice system; and track legal inclusion efforts throughout the state. Its certification program provides Utah’s legal employers, among others, with necessary tools to undertake existing and future hiring, retention, advancement and inclusion for women and other diverse attorneys. Parsons was one of the first law firms to become involved with UCLI and is a Diamond-level sponsor.
Parsons’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Director Christina M. Jepson says, “Leading Parsons’ DE&I initiative has been a rewarding endeavor. Parsons leadership, attorneys and staff firmly support the ongoing development of a workplace environment where firm members at every level feel supported and heard. We will continue to learn and apply principles of inclusion and diversity this year in our relationships with each other, our clients and in recruiting and retention.”
Parsons is dedicated to equitable and inclusive recruiting, hiring and retention of attorneys and professional staff. Internally, the firm focuses on creating an environment in which members of all backgrounds and experiences can succeed. Externally, our shareholders and associates donate their time and talents as adjunct professors, mentors and advisors to engage with and encourage a diverse group of law students, throughout the region, in their future legal pursuits. With an emphasis on equity, Parsons’ attorneys dedicate their expertise to a wide range of community boards and committees that work to create equality within our community and equity in access to legal services across all socioeconomic groups including, in part, Women Lawyers of Utah, Utah Minority Bar Association, LGBT and Allied Lawyers of Utah, Utah Racial Equity in Policing, Utah State Bar Indian Law Section, Asian Bar Association, And Justice for All, Disability Law Center and more.
Parsons’ CEO and Chairperson of the Board Shawn Ferrin says, “Achieving UCLI certification is an important milestone for our firm. We have been pleased to support this organization from its inception and understand the importance of the work they do in advancing the goals of equity and inclusion in Utah’s legal profession.”
To learn more about Parsons’ DE&I efforts, visit https://parsonsbehle.com/parsons-approach/diversity.
