Glancing at the website of almost any large law firm in the country, you will likely find information on their diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DE&I”) initiatives and commitments. Once hard to come by, many firms today dedicate significant resources to such initiatives. Broadly defined, DE&I is a phrase outlining the efforts an institution undertakes to create a more welcoming environment for people of historically underrepresented and less-privileged backgrounds.
While it is undeniable DE&I initiatives have grown immensely in the past few years, these initiatives typically fall short in a critical way. Some of the most essential members of the legal community—administrative staff—have been excluded from DE&I efforts within large firms. Although these employees are often more diverse than other members of the firm at large, DE&I programs neglect the specific struggles faced by administrative staff. The problem is clear, but how do organizations reform their current practices to integrate all members of their firm?
Melissa Pang, Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ballard Spahr LLP, is at the cutting edge of efforts to champion these overlooked members of the legal community. At Ballard, it is Pang’s job to integrate the firm’s administrative business professionals into a firm-wide DE&I commitment. Within this role, Pang consults with recruiting professionals, partners with affinity groups, and helps to organize unconscious bias programming and education to build active allyship. Instead of planning flashy events and press releases, Pang prefers to focus on individualized support, centering the professional growth and wellbeing of individuals who typically exist at the institutional margins. In one innovative program, Pang began an “article club” where employees have the opportunity to meet and discuss a DE&I theme once a month through podcasts, articles, etc… The popular program is celebrated among staff who appreciate the opportunity to learn from their peers, grow closer relationships, and express some of their struggles and concerns in a safe space.
A graduate of Temple Law, Pang did not initially plan to pursue a career in DE&I. Although Pang treasured her experiences with the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania (“APABA-PA”) while a student, she believed she had two career options—pursue the partner-track at a firm or go in-house. Pang accepted an offer at a firm after graduation while remaining closely involved in APABA-PA and other affinity groups.
As Pang’s career progressed, she spent more time and energy working with affinity groups and gradually, others in the community looked to her as an expert in the field to present on DE&I panels. Others told Pang her face “lit up” when speaking about DE&I issues and eventually, she realized where her true passions lay. After a stint working in the General Counsel’s Office of The School District of Philadelphia and witnessing the true impact of a diverse workforce, Pang openly voiced her interest in moving to a career in DE&I.
Ever since Pang was hired as Manager of DE&I at Ballard, she has continued the firm’s mission to expand DE&I initiatives to include administrative staff. In the future, Pang hopes other firms will establish dedicated programs for administrative staff and celebrate their valuable contribution to firm culture. As a first-generation law student, Pang knows the incredible value of such initiatives and affinity groups. It is from these experiences Pang made friends and developed mentors to help her find her own path and troubleshoot daily obstacles. Furthermore, these affinity groups were critical in developing her own leadership skills and honing a network of legal professionals.
Melissa Pang’s career path is a testament to the power of an individual determined to follow their passion and develop their expertise. Pang started young in developing her own network within the DE&I space and identifying shortcomings in the space. Her innovative solutions to expand DE&I commitments to often overlooked employees will hopefully spread throughout the legal field in the near future. In the meantime, Pang encourages students to build power and connections within their own communities through affinity groups, mentorship programs, and other networking opportunities.
BIO: Therese Gildea (LAW ’23) is a Novel Content Editor for the Temple 10-Q.