SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – At Klinedinst we recognize Juneteenth, a 156-year-old celebration of the end of slavery (almost three years after the Emancipation Proclamation). All of us at Klinedinst are pausing to recognize Juneteenth and use this day to reflect on the legacy of slavery and continued racial injustices.
In 2021 this holiday takes on new meaning. As we consider the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others, we reflect on the considerable barriers which people of color and other traditionally repressed groups continue to face.
It has been encouraging to see so many allies among our community. We all need to continue to be advocates and to speak out when we see injustice happening. This type of focused attention in advocacy work, in education, and in our own neighborhoods will help to shine a light on issues that as a society have not been addressed or confronted for too long.
The recognition of Juneteenth as an official holiday follows the firm’s Call to Action, first published in 2020. It established the firm’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion and addressing racial injustice. We are proud to have participated in educational events, funded scholarships, supported diversity programs and organizations, and expanded our Diversity Committee. In recent months, several of our firm have been featured presenters in programs focusing on equality and inclusion in the legal industry. Additionally, as part of its diversity initiative, the firm is expanding resources dedicated to recruiting, training, retaining, and promoting personnel and attorneys from different cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
Klinedinst has encouraged participation in and actively supports organizations that seek to effectuate positive change in our communities, including the California Lawyers Foundation, California ChangeLawyers, the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington Initiative for Diversity. We have continued our longstanding participation of the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) and ACC Diversity Fellowship Program and the Sacramento County Bar Association Summer Diversity Fellowship.
While we are proud of our efforts, we know that there is much work still left to be done. We call on all change agents, and every member of our team, to make their voices heard and continue to identified tangible ways to build an inclusive environment, foster trust, and lead the legal profession in a manner that will make our children and grandchildren proud.
Please join Klinedinst in recognizing the importance of Juneteenth and honoring it as an official holiday. Visit our diversity section to learn about our efforts in improving diversity in the legal community, as well as the community as a whole.
About Klinedinst
Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel. The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationships our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether vigorously advocating for clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.