Social Justice as a Best Business Practice

Today is the launch date for our new law firm – The Winters Law Group, LLC.  This is also the first post for “Notes From The Edge,” a blog that will provide weekly notes on recent legal decisions and topics in the law affecting our clients, emerging technologies and industries, and thoughts on our responsibilities as attorneys and citizens of an increasingly global and connected community.

For this first post, I thought it would be appropriate to focus on the social justice aspect of our legal practice that we are dedicated to building upon in the coming years.

We say we are “At The Intersection Of Entrepreneurship And Social Justice” because while we are primarily a business services and litigation practice, we also strongly believe in promoting social justice.  Through representation of a diverse array of clients in civil and criminal litigation, we strive to ensure that laws protecting our fundamental rights and the balance of power within our society are not eroded.  We are unabashedly idealistic and optimistic about our ability to effectuate change and do things differently as attorneys.

If you are an employer or are planning to launch a new business, you might want to consider that your employees or future employees will likely value the opportunity to participate in the promotion of social justice and to be supported by you in such endeavors.  One trend in employee benefits I have recently been reading about is the concept of social justice paid time off.  Other employers offer matching donations to social justice organizations.  Even something as simple as providing your employees with paid time off to vote can make a difference.  This article from Fast Company provides a great overview on useful strategies for promoting social justice in your business. https://www.fastcompany.com/40407672/could-social-justice-benefits-be-the-newest-employment-trend

To us, promoting social justice is a goal that is intertwined with every aspect of our practice.  No matter the client or project, we think about what we can do to ensure that all individuals and groups obtain fair and impartial treatment.  As attorneys and citizens, we can do small things that make a big impact. I really like the six simple steps for supporting social justice within a business organization discussed in this recent Forbes article –

1. Diversify Your Team
2. Look At The Whole Business Through A Lens Of Inclusion
3. Include Social Justice Programming
4. Eliminate Organizational Structures That Exacerbate Privilege
5. Create A Network Of Economic Opportunity
6. Start And Continue Safe, Honest Conversations.

Start.org also has a substantial list of organizations seeking to promote social justice within our society, which can be found here: http://www.startguide.org/orgs/orgs06.html.

• Jessica Winters, Managing Member

This post is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from The Winters Law Group LLC, or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this Post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.