Our Commitment to Diversity: Our Professionals. Your Partners.
GJTBS offers its clients a team of professionals who reflect both our commitment and our clients' commitment to diversity. Diversity enhances the quality of our legal services just like it enhances our clients' businesses. Our goal is to attract and develop the most talented and motivated professionals while insuring fairness, respect, and opportunity for advancement regardless of race, gender, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or any other protected status. As evidence of our commitment, GJTBS attorneys are active members of DRI's Diversity Committee; the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC); the Human Right Campaign; the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; the Association of Women Attorneys; Executive Women International; the National Bar Association; and the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society.
Firm's Commitment to Diversity is Reflected in
Our Members' Civic, Legal, and Industry Leadership.
GJTBS commits to the Louisiana State Bar Association's Diversity Pledge
GJTBS is proud to support the LSBA's Diversity Statement of Principles and make the following commitment:
Those signing this Statement of Principles hereby commit themselves to foster diversity in the legal profession. The LSBA recognizes that diversity is an inclusive concept that encompasses race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, disability, gender identity, gender expression and other aspects of diversity.
We believe that with greater diversity, we can be more creative, effective and bring more varied perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, talents and interest to the practice of law and the administration of justice. We further believe that a diverse group of talented legal professionals is critically important to the success of every law firm, corporate or government legal department, law school and public service organization and every other organization that includes attorneys.
We recognize that to fully and equitably pursue justice, our profession must reflect the full spectrum of our communities. To this end, we pledge to make our best efforts to increase the diversity in our hiring, retention and promotion of attorneys and the elevation of attorneys to leadership positions within our respective organizations. We believe that all members of the bar should participate equally and fully in our profession. Ultimately, we believe that diversity, in the legal profession is good for the profession, good for business, good for our communities and critical for enhancing the public's confidence in the judicial system.
We recognize that achieving diversity within our organizations and creating inclusive environments are evolutionary processes that require a continued effort and commitment on our part. We pledge to promote and participate in appropriate diversity awareness training programs. We further agree to participate in programs to measure our progress in the pursuit of these stated principles.
GJTBS sponsors 20th and 21st Annual Minority Job Fair
GJTBS was happy to sponsor the 20th and 21st Annual Minority Job Fair hosted by the Louisiana State Bar Association. We believe that our leadership in such endeavors forms an essential part of our commitment to diversity in the legal profession.
Executive Women International--New Orleans Chapter
Andrea Albert serves as the Ways and Means Director and is immediate past President. Doris Bobadilla serves as the Sergeant at Arms and is a past President. Candice Herrington serves as Treasurer. Doris was named Representative of the Year in 2006. Andrea was named Representative of the Year in 2009. Recently, Candice was named Representative of the Year in 2011.
National Bar Association
Cherrell R. Simms in our New Orleans office is a past member of the Board of Directors and was the co-chairperson for the 2010 Convention Planning Committee.
Louis A. Martinet Legal Society
This Society was founded in 1957 to encourage the interchange of ideas, promote legal scholarship, advance the science of jurisprudence, promote the administration of justice, uphold the order and ethics of the courts and the profession of law, and promote the welfare of the legal profession in Louisiana. Today, its membership includes over 600 African-American attorneys, judges and other elected officials in the Greater New Orleans area. GJTBS Attorney Cherrell Simms serves as a past President of the organization.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) 2012 scored GJTBS a 90 out of 100. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.
The NGLCC
The NGLCC is the business advocate and direct link between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) business owners, corporations, and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs. The NGLCC is committed to forming a broad-based coalition of LGBT owned and friendly businesses, professionals, and major corporations for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the prosperity of its members.
