Q&A
Pro bono work and diversity in law firms
1:12:23
·
149 sec
Council Member Adams inquires about Mastro's plans for pro bono services and the commitment to diversity in the legal community.
- Mastro discusses his plans to develop a large-scale program for pro bono services from the city's legal community
- He emphasizes his commitment to diversity and inclusion, citing his track record in private practice
- Mastro stresses the importance of reflecting the diversity of the community in the Law Department's workforce
Adrienne E. Adams
1:12:23
Thank you very much.
1:12:23
You've spoken a lot about pro bono work and your pro bono work.
1:12:28
During your discussions with several council members, you discussed plans to develop a large scale program for pro bono services from the city's legal community, contemplating, in particular, the participation of major law firms often called a big law.
1:12:45
How do these large private law firms share the city's policies and preference for real inclusion and diversity, especially amongst their own leadership?
Randy Mastro
1:12:57
I'm really glad you asked that question.
Adrienne E. Adams
1:13:00
You're glad that I'm asking all of my questions.
1:13:02
Thank you.
Randy Mastro
1:13:03
Yes.
1:13:04
I I I am, and that should tell you something.
1:13:06
I'm a happy warrior.
1:13:11
Madame Speaker, involving large law firms, to supplement the great workforce of the law department, I think is something that would be a plus that ultimately directed by the city and corp counsel's office as to the direction of the litigation, but it's additional resources that we can bring to bear to the process.
1:13:34
I'm committed to diversity and inclusion, and the law department should always reflect the diversity and the representation of the community we serve I have a proven track record of doing that in private practice myself, where I took my old law firm's New York Litigation Group from 0 diverse partners to over 30% women and other diverse partners by the time I left the firm, and I'm very proud of that.
1:13:59
Private law firms making resources available for pro bono work, that would be at the direction of the law department.
1:14:06
And I think that that's a a a a supplementation to that workforce.
1:14:09
I also think that in our recruiting and recruiting a diverse team at corp counsel's office.
1:14:15
Extremely important.
1:14:18
And the law department needs that kind of emphasis on recruiting.
1:14:21
And with affirmative litigation being a a hook, I think you are gonna see a new energy of people at all levels, the the young shining stars to more senior people who wanna make a a contribution to public service, coming into public service to do that.
1:14:40
It will be exciting work, but always always the team that we will have on the field Madam Speaker will reflect this great city of ours and be a diverse team.
1:14:50
I assure you.