Lockridge Grindal Nauen is committed to embracing and reflecting the diversity of the clients we serve and our community and to developing, maintaining, and expanding an inclusive work environment. LGN recognizes our firm is stronger when we include all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical ability.

A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has long been part of our mission and approach.  For example, we are proud that LGN was the first law firm in Minnesota to publicly oppose the 2012 proposed “Marriage Amendment,” which would have banned gay marriage in Minnesota, and we worked closely with Minnesotans United for All Families on the “Vote No” effort.

In July 2021, Lockridge Grindal Nauen adopted an anti-racism resolution that sets out our vision and actions to further our commitment to an inclusive work environment, legal profession, and society.  That resolution is set out below.

LGN Adopts Anti-Racism Resolution

WHEREAS, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. recognizes that there has been systemic and structural racism, overt and implicit bias, and other unjust prejudices and practices that have led and continue to lead to racial inequities throughout society and the legal profession; and

WHEREAS, we believe that the legal system and the rule of law, and our law firm, has both the capacity and the moral obligation to help create a more fair and just society; and

WHEREAS, such racial inequities, and their causes, can be and should be identified, addressed and eradicated;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by both the partnership and the firm as a whole, that Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. is committed to doing its part, intentionally and continually, in eradicating racial inequities and ensuring that our firm more closely mirrors our values of inclusion and diversity;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. has taken the following steps in support of this commitment:

  • Established a Diversity and Inclusion Committee, consisting of professionals from across the firm, including firm leadership, that meets regularly to monitor and address the firm’s efforts at achieving a diverse and inclusive firm, and which regularly shares and sponsors educational opportunities and events to the firm;
  • Employed practices consistent with the Mansfield Rule when making hires for all levels of employment, in order to ensure that there is an opportunity for diverse applicants and candidates to be considered;
  • Established a pro bono policy that supports providing legal work at no charge so that disadvantaged persons have access to quality legal representation;
  • Annually participated in law clerk hiring programs for diverse law students;
  • Established hiring and associate mentoring and review programs that have been monitored and revised in order to minimize any impact of bias;
  • Established associate development practices to provide opportunities for professional involvement and feedback and participation in significant litigation matters;
  • Established a tradition of professionals serving as volunteers or in leadership for non-profit organizations that play a part in creating a more fair and just society;
  • Engaged in multiple professional training sessions for all employees on elimination of bias;
  • Engaged in occasional book club events focusing on topics of racism, bias and injustice;
  • Recognized Juneteenth as a paid firm holiday;
  • Established a wellness committee with a robust, inclusive and personal approach; and
  • Joined as a member of the Twin Cities Diversity in Practice organization.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. will take the following future steps in support of this commitment:

  • Annual review of the firm’s ongoing antiracism and diversity, inclusion and equity efforts;
  • Annual commitment by each professional to make their own contributions to inclusion through meaningful work opportunities, mentoring, or other means;
  • Increase representation at the firm of historically underrepresented groups to meet or exceed the representation of those groups in the legal profession;
  • Annual review of hiring, retention and advancement of underrepresented groups and related law firm practices and guidelines;
  • Establish data points and goals by which the firm can measure progress; and
  • Listen, learn and improve on the firm’s commitment.

Women of LGN

We have worked hard to develop an inclusive work environment. Women make up half of LGN’s attorneys and almost 40% of our partners—a figure well ahead of the national average. LGN was named by Working Mother as one of the “Best Law Firms for Women” for 2019 and 2020. This recognition, given to only 60 firms throughout the country, signifies that LGN is a firm that uses best practices to recruit, retain, promote and develop women attorneys.  To determine which firms are included in the list, the Working Mother Research Institute considers attorney demographics at different levels, schedule flexibility, paid time off and parental leaves, and development and retention of women. LGN was also named one of the seven best mid-sized firms for women attorneys in the country according to Law360’s Glass Ceiling Report. The report recognized firms for having above-average female representation among both partner and non-partner attorneys.

LGN women partners are consistently named among the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in Minnesota and Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers.

D&I Committee

LGN has made a serious commitment to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of attorneys of color and the LGBT+ community. LGN’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee actively promotes diversity and inclusion across all levels of our firm, and works together to make our diversity and inclusion initiatives part of everything we do.

Our firm-wide internal education programs raise awareness on practical ways to be inclusive.

Wellness Committee

The LGN Wellness Committee was established with the belief that to be a good law firm, we need to be a healthy law firm.  This means being mindful of the occupational, emotional, physical, and intellectual health of all members of the firm.  With this vision as our guide, the LGN Wellness Committee developed a series of initiatives to promote wellness and maintain a healthy work/life balance.

Supporting a diverse legal profession

We partner with and sponsor organizations that work to expand diversity in the legal profession, such as the Minnesota Urban Debate League, the Page Education Foundation, the Sanneh Foundation, and Meet Me In The Middle—each of which works to expand educational opportunities and professional opportunities to high school and college students.

We work within the legal community to build a diverse profession. In past years, LGN has participated in the Hennepin County Bar Association Minority Clerkship Program (formerly the MSBA Minority Clerkship program), which matches 1L summer associates with LGN. LGN also participates in the TCDIP 1L Rotation Clerkship, where we partner with a corporate partner to provide opportunities for law students of color over the course of a summer.

In addition, LGN supports the following programs, either through financial sponsorship or active attorney involvement:

  • American Bar Association, Membership and Diversity Committees
  • American Constitution Society
  • Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County
  • Jewish Community Relations Council
  • Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid One Hour of Sharing Campaign (100% Associate participation in 2016-2021)
  • Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
  • Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Diversity Committee
  • Minnesota Lavender Bar Association
  • Minnesota Mother Attorneys Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers
  • National Native American Bar Association
  • Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
  • William McGee Civil Rights Moot Court
Supporting our community

Lockridge Grindal Nauen has a rich tradition of involvement in our community. Several LGN attorneys have been recognized as North Star Lawyers for their commitment to pro bono work and provide pro bono services through a number of different organizations that serve diverse or historically disadvantaged groups and/or communities. LGN attorneys have also worked with the Advocates for Human Rights to obtain asylum and citizenship for numerous clients. LGN’s pro bono commitment extends to a number of legal services clinics across the Twin Cities and other projects designed to assist pro se litigants.

LGN’s attorneys, government relations team, and staff are active in the community, providing financial, legal, legislative or volunteer support to the following organizations:

  • Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
  • Boys & Girls Club Minnesota Alliance
  • Serving Our Troops
  • Neighborhood House
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Family Wise
  • Project for Pride in Living
  • YWCA Circle of Women
  • womenwinning
  • Housing Justice Center
  • Jewish Federation of Greater St. Paul
  • In the Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theater
  • Citizens League
  • Meet Me In The Middle Nonprofit
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities