LAW FIRM SUSTAINABILITY: THE GREEN EDGE: How to Make it about Altruism, Business and the Brand.

AuthorJoshi, Gayatri

While heightened environmental and social consciousness by law firms has been an instigator of sustainability initiatives, a key driver has come from corporate America with many clients such as Patagonia, Seventh Generation and even WalMart pushing the issue of sustainability to their business partners. The increase in corporations responding to key stakeholders' call for stewardship and an upsurge of social entrepreneurs have given rise to an expectation that business partners will align to their core values. Many law firms and their employees have used this opportunity to demonstrate their personal passions around stewardship while integrating it with their business goals.

So What Are Legal Organizations Doing?

Doing the right thing. Attorneys have long recognized their influence and role in shaping social equity. Naturally, many law firms are completing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) program of pro bono, philanthropy, community and diversity with environmental sustainability. From the Law Firm Sustainability Network Benchmark Survey in 2012-2013, with responses from 36 firms about their sustainability initiatives, more than 80 percent of firms said sustainability is either moderately, very or critically important, and half said their leadership is moderately engaged in the firm's sustainability initiatives. With greater focus being placed on sustainability within the organization, in addition to green teams, some firms like Alston & Bird, Nixon & Peabody and Kilpatrick town send have instituted specific sustainability roles, such as sustainability partner, chief sustainability officer and CSR director, to offer perspective, insight and time on reducing environmental impact, engaging stakeholders and adding to the firm's bottom line.

Many firms and staff have turned to resources and organizations in the legal industry such as the Law Firm Sustainability Network (LFSN), which helps law firm and in-house counsel membership through webinars, surveys and other resources to become more sustainable. We also see the newly formed NYLMA Corporate Social Responsibility Special interest Group (NYLMA CSR SiG), a new demand from legal professionals for opportunities to give back outside their law firm and to bring ideas within their firm. For Earth Day earlier this year, the NYLMA CSR SiG supported the Clayton Williams Community Garden by preparing it for spring planting. the group is also planning to help the NYLMA Chapter with...

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