What types of employers are eligible to apply for the DEI Leadership Seal?
Employers, regardless of sector, that employ California-licensed attorneys are eligible to participate in the DEI Leadership Seal Program. This includes, but is not limited to, law firms of all sizes, in-house legal departments, legal academia, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies with attorney staff.
Can employers with offices both in and out of California (such as national or international law firms) participate in the program?
Yes. Employers may choose to commit to and implement the Action Items for either their entire firm or only their California offices. If an employer commits to and implements the Action Items for specific offices, only those offices would be listed as participating employers and eligible to use the DEI Leadership Seal on their materials.
Can legal departments or teams within a larger employer (like a corporation’s legal department, or a university’s law school) participate in the program?
Yes. Employers may choose to commit to and implement the Action Items for either their entire organization or only their legal department or team. If an employer commits to and implements the Action Items only for their legal department, only that department would be listed as a participating employer and eligible to use the DEI Leadership Seal on its materials.
Can solo practitioners participate in the program?
Unfortunately, currently, the program is not well-suited for or targeted to solo practitioners because the Action Items focus on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion among attorneys and staff of multiple people. The State Bar will consider opportunities for solo practitioners to engage in its DEI work in other ways and encourages feedback on how best to do so.
Is participation in the DEI Leadership Seal Program required for employers with California attorneys?
No. The DEI Leadership Seal Program is voluntary.
Where did the list of Action Items come from?
The Action Items were derived, in part, from the Calls to Action in the State Bar’s 2022 Diversity Report Card and based on research on best practices to improve workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as feedback from various stakeholders across a variety of sectors in the legal profession. The Calls to Action, available by sector, provide additional best practices and resources. Calls to Action for attorneys are also available to encourage individuals to take an active role in advancing DEI in the workplace.
When will my employer receive the DEI Leadership Seal?
The program will have annual application windows for participating employers to indicate their commitment to, or implementation of, five of the ten Action Items. These dates will be posted on our website. Please allow approximately two months for State Bar staff to review and respond to applications.
Committed participating employers will then have up to one year to implement the Action Items before being recognized as seal recipients and receiving the DEI Leadership Seal to use on their own materials. For example, committed participating employers who applied in 2026 must demonstrate implementation of five of the ten Action Items by spring 2027 to receive the DEI Leadership Seal.
Does the State Bar have any guidance on how to implement the Action Items?
The State Bar has created a Resource Guide that provides tips and best practices to consider when implementing the Action Items. The guide is intended to be one tool to help organizations develop and achieve their DEI goals and is not intended to provide step-by-step instructions.
My employer is already a seal recipient. What documentation is required to remain in the program?
DEI Leadership Seal recipients must submit an annual attestation form to confirm that they continue to have at least five of the ten Action Items implemented. Current seal recipients must submit the DEI Leadership Seal Attestation form annually.
My employer is already a seal recipient, but we have implemented more Action Items and want to move up to a higher tier. What are the next steps? What documentation is required?
DEI Leadership Seal recipients who want to advance tiers must complete and submit a DEI Leadership Seal Tier Advancement Application and supporting documentation. The State Bar will provide several opportunities throughout the year for seal recipients to submit this documentation and advance tiers. Seal recipients that want to advance tiers must still submit an attestation form to affirm implementation of the Action Items for which their materials have already been reviewed and approved.
