Diversity
We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. Culturally and ethnically we are and will continue to be extremely diverse. We are committed to fostering an environment where all individuals are respected, understood and appreciated. We are dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is inclusive of our differences, and we believe that the diverse backgrounds of our lawyers and staff foster creativity and innovation that enable us to provide a higher level of service to our clients.
We are a majority women-owned equal opportunity employer, with men and women practicing at every level in the Firm. We are the only majority women-owned firm in the U.S. with offices in New York and Chicago. We have certification from the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) and have been certified as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE).
Our overall goal is to identify and eliminate any barriers to the success of our diverse legal talent. We have a Native-American woman partner and a Hispanic-American woman associate. Over the years our firm has included Chinese, Russian, Turkish, Moroccan, and African American lawyers. We view diversity as a desirable characteristic and a source of strength for our firm.
The firm is a signatory to The Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s “Statement of Diversity Principles,” the only small firm to do so. We regularly attend The Association’s meetings to implement those principles. We have recognized and adopted the Statement’s goals of promoting diversity in hiring, retention, promotion and leadership.
We play an active role in diversity efforts in the New York legal community, through our individual and law firm activities. As examples, Beth Kaufman conceived and founded the Women in Products Liability (“WIPL”) meetings of the American Bar Association. She is also on the board of the National Association of Women Lawyers and its Committee for the Evaluation of Supreme Court Nominees. Charles Updike served on the Special Committee of the New York City Bar Association Committee that investigated gender discrimination in the Second Circuit. Nancy Connery and Mindy Stern are members of the Association of Real Estate Women (“AREW”). Stephanie Scharf is a past president of NAWL and is currently President of the NAWL Foundation. Mary Smith is a member of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession and the National Native American Bar Association’s delegate to the ABA House of Delegates.
Among its recent activities, the Firm sponsored the National Association of Women Lawyers (‘NAWL”) National Summit, Columbia University’s Community Impact, the Women’s Bar Association’s Annual Dinner, and the NAWL Annual Awards Luncheon. The firm is a member of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (“NAMWOLF”), and serves as general counsel to the NYC Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (“NAWBO”).
Work/Life Balance
Schoeman, Updike & Kaufman, LLP is well known for its innovative flex time work models. We provide all of our attorneys with laptops, RAS (Remote Access Service) and Blackberry’s® which allows them to telecommute as needed.
