Diversity
At Bond, we believe diversity within our ranks makes us better lawyers and a stronger law firm. We proudly value our racial, ethnic, cultural, social, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious and other personal differences. We are committed to the promotion of greater diversity throughout our communities and the legal profession. We demonstrate this commitment not only by seeking qualified candidates from across the nation's law schools, but also by supporting various diversity initiatives in the communities where we practice.
Inside Bond
The firm's diversity committee, comprised of members, associates and staff, is charged with advancing the firm's diversity goals by, among other things, developing and implementing firm-wide initiatives to foster an inclusive culture. The committee reports directly to Bond’s management committee.
To further this mission, the firm’s Chief Strategy & Diversity Officer works to develop, support and implement firmwide policies and programs to enhance diversity and inclusion within the firm. The Chief Strategy & Diversity Officer collaborates with a multitude of firm constituencies to create training initiatives, mentoring programs, leadership opportunities and cultural events to ensure the professional development of all of Bond’s attorneys.
Bond's goal is not merely to recruit exceptionally talented individuals from all backgrounds but also to foster and encourage their development as firm and community leaders.
At Bond, we believe in recruiting and advancing the best and brightest attorneys from all backgrounds, and Bond’s leadership committees have long included attorneys of color and women.
“An inclusive environment provides better outcomes for our clients and a better culture in which all of our professional team can work and grow.”
- Kim Wolf Price, Chief Strategy & Diversity Officer
The M. Catherine Richardson Clerkship Program
The M. Catherine Richardson Clerkship Program offers paid 1L summer clerkship positions to full-time first year law students who are in good standing at an ABA-accredited law school. The program is named after retired Bond Member M. Catherine Richardson, a true pioneer and champion of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude), Catherine practiced her entire legal career as a lawyer at Bond and, in 1986, became the first woman elected to the firm’s membership. She was also the first female President of the Onondaga County Bar Association (1987) and the second female President of the New York State Bar Association (1996-1997). Her extraordinary commitment to the profession also includes service as President of the New York Bar Foundation (2009-2012); Chair of the Foundation Fellows (2005-2008); member of the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association (2003-2006); and current board member and past President of the ABA Retirement Fund.
Students selected for The M. Catherine Richardson Clerkship Program will participate in the same assignments and events as students in the firm’s traditional 2L summer program. In addition to this program, the firm also participates in local bar association diversity clerkship programs, such as the programs administered by the Monroe County Bar Association, the Albany County Bar Association and the Onondaga County Bar Association.
To learn more about the program and how to submit an application, click here.
Outside Bond
Our attorneys demonstrate their commitment to diversity in the legal profession by serving on – and taking leadership roles within – local and state bar associations and committees dedicated to diversity and inclusion. A sample of those organizations includes: the New York State Bar Association Committee on Diversity & Inclusion and Women in Law Section, the Central New York Women’s Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association of New York, the Rochester Black Bar Association, the Capital District (NY) Women’s Bar Association, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Diversity & Inclusion Council, the Collier County (FL) Women’s Bar Association, Nassau County Long Island Hispanic Bar Association and the Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association. And each year, Bond sponsors numerous events in furtherance of the diversity and inclusion work of these organizations.
But building strong communities and good lawyers starts well before admission to the bar. That is why Bond supports numerous community events, law school sponsored programs and diversity hiring programs. Bond team members are also active in the New York State Bar Association’s Youth Law Day program, which brings high school students from underrepresented communities across NY State into law schools to introduce them to legal study and practice.
Giving back to the communities in which we serve is part of the charge of each Bond attorney. There is a long list of community boards and projects to which Bond attorneys give their time.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC continues to provide all employees and applicants an equal employment opportunity in the manner required by law in all aspects of employment regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status or any other status protected by local, state or federal law.
