Initiatives to Promote a Culture of Inclusion and Awareness:

• Wellness Initiative. A&S provides opportunities for self-care including meditation, yoga, financial seminars, weekly A&S “healthy breakfast” day, and other wellness activities throughout the year. The firm has a dedicated staff member who manages all wellness activities at the firm.   

• Pro-Bono Program. A&S’s Pro-Bono Committee is led by a team of partners, associates, paraprofessionals, and staff, who all work together to provide employees with access to pro-bono legal matters, as well as non-legal charitable opportunities.  Our current pro-bono program includes legal assistance to domestic violence victims applying for “U-visa” immigration status, LGBTQ applicants seeking asylum in the United States, and low-income small business entrepreneurs through VOLS’s Microenterprise Project. The committee also hosts annual food and coat drives and supports individual employee fundraising efforts for charitable causes on an ad-hoc basis.

• Associate Marketing. Our associate marketing program provides hands-on training and mentoring by partners, senior associates and even guest speakers to all associates, regardless of class year or practice area. The program includes monthly meetings, pitch practice, mock networking events, as well as business development training and career mentoring.  Associates are encouraged to bring in clients and introduce their contacts to the Firm – if an associate’s client brings in business for the Firm, not only will the partners at the Firm guide, support, and work on the applicable matter, but any profit realized from the work performed will be taken into consideration in (and may increase) the associate’s year-end bonus.

• Committee on Associate Affairs. Each year, the associates vote to appoint up to three representatives to the Committee on Associate Affairs, which is tasked with communicating associate issues, concerns and ideas to the Management Committee on an anonymous basis. The associate representatives are encouraged to provide open and honest feedback about A&S policies, including compensation, technology, marketing, and staffing.

• Hedgehog Events.  Each year, our Hedgehog Committee (which is made up of partners, associates and staff) work together to host a variety of inclusive, morale-building events, to which all employees are invited and encouraged to attend.  Hedgehog Committee events range from viewing international sporting events to celebrating national and cultural holidays, to our annual Hedgehog Halloween, where all A&S employees can bring their children in costume to trick or treat through the office, play in a haunted conference room and enjoy treats (including a chocolate fountain).