What We Believe

The Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (ODEIB) is a social-change making institution situated at the heart of the legal profession. Our mission is to expand access, dismantle barriers, and create pathways for those historically excluded, fostering a more equitable and inclusive legal community for all.

ODEIB’s 30-year history has combined institutional and grassroots approaches. Our three flagship pipeline programs – for high school students, law students, and early career associates – have opened doors and empowered new generations of lawyers. In response to recent backlash against DEIB, ODEIB launched a series of pipeline conferences that unite practitioners to share insights, pool resources, and build partnerships that strengthen the field. Beyond supporting students and galvanizing the work of DEIB leaders, ODEIB also drives thought leadership through its Building Belonging podcast, which amplifies and explores bold solutions, and its Beyond Bias trainings, which equip professionals to recognize and address bias.

ODEIB is driven by the belief that DEIB is civil rights in action—woven into the spaces that we occupy every day. We are committed to doing work that is outcome oriented, accountable to all stakeholders, and multi-generational in scope. We invite all DEIB partners and enthusiasts—large and small, experienced and aspiring—to join us in in the work of creating a legal profession whose doors are open to all regardless of their background, and that is deeply invested in the success, growth and wellbeing of all its members.