The DEI Leadership Seal Program is an optional program that employers with California attorneys can participate in to signal their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 

As part of its 2022 Diversity Report Card, the State Bar of California published Calls to Action that legal employers and attorneys can implement to support greater DEI in the workplace. The DEI Leadership Seal program recognizes California legal employers that commit to and implement specific DEI action items.

To be considered for participation, please complete the DEI Leadership Seal Application form and provide the required supporting documentation.

An employer may participate in the program as either a committed participating employer or a seal recipient. To be recognized as a committed participating employer, an employer must commit to implementing at least five of the ten Action Items. Committed participating employers will have one year to implement the selected Action Items. The one-year implementation window starts when an employer’s application is approved. Once an employer implements at least five of the ten Action Items, it may be deemed a seal recipient. 

Committed participating employers will be listed on the State Bar website. DEI Leadership Seal recipients will also be listed on the State Bar website and receive a seal that they can use on their web and print materials to signal their participation in the program to employees, job candidates, clients, and more.

If your organization has already implemented five of the ten Action Items (including the two that are required) at the time of application, please indicate that on your application and provide the requested documentation. If your employer’s implementation of the Action Items is sufficient, you can receive the DEI Leadership Seal as soon as your application is reviewed.

The DEI Leadership Seal program recognizes bronze, silver, and gold seal recipients, based on the number of Action Items implemented. 

• Employers that implement five Action Items are eligible to be recognized as bronze-tier recipients. 

• Employers that implement seven Action Items are eligible to be recognized as silver-tier recipients. 

• Employers that implement nine Action Items are eligible to be recognized as gold-tier recipients. 

All participating employers, regardless of tier, must commit to implementing the first two Action Items and then select from the remaining eight.

Committed employers should use the Tier Advancement form to identify and document which Action Items have been implemented. Tier Advancement forms are accepted on a rolling basis. Tier Advancement form due dates will be posted on our website.

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.

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.

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.

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.