Our Culture
Diversity strengthens us all and at Conn Kavanaugh we support individuals from all walks of life. We celebrate diversity in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective.
THE FIRM’S MISSION
Conn Kavanaugh’s shared values are founded upon our deep commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. We believe that every individual should be treated with dignity and respect. We strive for diversity not only in terms of our people, but also in the inclusion of unique perspectives and insights that each person brings to the firm. Conn Kavanaugh’s approach to Diversity and Inclusion enhances our ability to meet the challenges of our clients through embracing innovative, creative solutions from a wealth of legal talent and experience. We promote equality through our deep investment in civic and community efforts, including our leadership in local bar associations and affinity groups that support the advancement of diversity in all environments, in and out of the workplace.
THE CONN KAVANAUGH WAY
We conduct ourselves with the utmost honesty and integrity. We treat everyone in the firm with courtesy and respect. We strive for excellence in our work. We practice law aggressively but professionally. We work hard to develop and improve our talents. We strive to build our practice, both personally and as an institution, developing interpersonal relationships with our clients. We contribute to the law and to our community. We support and believe in one another. We are loyal to the firm; the loyalty is earned not owed. We are a warm collegial firm; this is a strength not a weakness.
PROMOTING WOMEN
The firm has an excellent track record in hiring, training, and promoting women attorneys. Our managing partner, Erin Higgins, started at the firm as a third year associate and built a thriving professional liability defense practice over nearly three decades at the firm. Seven of our equity (ownership) partners are women, six are men. Our Management Committee is composed of three women and three men, as is our Compensation Committee.
THE FIRM’S MACON BOLLING ALLEN FELLOWSHIP
This program is designed to provide a dynamic fellowship experience for a Boston-area law student with a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their communities and/or in the legal profession. The fellowship is to be completed as a supplement to coursework during one semester of the second year of law school. The program is mutually beneficial to the chosen fellow and to Conn Kavanaugh’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion mission.
The Fellowship program provides a paid $5,000 stipend for 10 hours of work per week, over the course of 8-10 weeks during either the fall or spring semester. The Fellow can expect to work closely with attorneys and staff to build a foundation for a career in law and close relationships within the firm. The Fellowship is designed to provide an introduction to client work and hands-on experience working alongside partners at a law firm and to add meaningful work experience to the Fellow’s resume. Since the inauguration of this program in the fall 2021 semester, we have welcomed one fellow each spring and fall semester. We are pleased to report that we have hired our first Fellow to return to the firm in the fall of 2023 as a full-time associate attorney.
Macon Bolling Allen Fellowship Participants
OUTREACH AND ALLIANCES WITH AFFINITY GROUPS
The firm has a long-standing relationship with the Black Law Students Association at Suffolk University Law School (BLSA), that includes many years of sponsoring their annual and special events, as well as coordinating programming such as a joint panel on February 8, 2022 moderated by one of our junior associates, “Dueling Career Concepts: In-House versus In-Firm.” The firm also regularly supports events sponsored by the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association, the Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys, the Women’s Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston, and the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association.
