Why Sponsorship Matters…
Over the past eight years working here in the Twin Cities, I have seen significant progress in hiring and recruitment practices, which has helped bring a significant influx of young lawyers of color and women into our member firms and law departments. But while we’ve shown it’s possible to attract talented and diverse lawyers to the Twin Cities, we still struggle with how to keep them here. This is no different than other major markets, where the issues of retention and advancement continue to pose a major challenge. But here at Diversity in Practice we’re far from ready to throw in the towel.
That’s why we created a new Sponsorship Pilot Program just last year. 
This Pilot reflects our deepening understanding that there is a meaningful difference between mentoring and sponsoring someone in the workplace. This view is supported by recent research which has found that in order for lawyers of color and woman to advance their careers they not only need a mentor, who serves as a touchstone in the workplace, they also need a sponsor who takes a deeper and more meaningful interest in their career development.
The Diversity in Practice Sponsorship Pilot Program is designed to give our members tools to develop and advance high potential, diverse lawyers by giving them access to meaningful relationships and opportunities within their organizations. Both actual data and anecdotal evidence confirm that solid relationships and access to good and meaningful work are the two most important factors cited by high achieving associates in deciding to stay at law firms and legal departments.
Indeed, all of us in leadership positions have had someone over the course of our career who took a special interest in us; someone who served not only as a guide but put themselves forward to advocate for us even when we were not in the room. We’ve all had someone who took us under wing, showed us the ropes, and explained the unwritten rules of engagement, all of which proved invaluable in making us better lawyers and better leaders. These people were more than Mentors, they were Sponsors! And we can all show our thanks to them but taking the opportunity to stand as sponsors in good turn.
The question for our leadership now is who are you sponsoring?