Firm Managing Partner Melissa Jones Discusses Generation Gap in Law Firms, Diversity, and the Pacific Northwest featured in The American Lawyer

Stoel Rives’ Firm Managing Partner Melissa Jones was interviewed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic by Ben Seal, managing editor of The American Lawyer, for an article entitled “Stoel Rives' Melissa Jones on the Generation Gap in Law Firms, Diversity and the Pacific Northwest,” published April 23, 2020. (Subscription required.) 

The article explores Stoel Rives’ place in the market as an Am Law 200 firm, outside interest in the Pacific Northwest, and competing at a top-tier level in existing markets. Jones shared her focus on strategic growth related to the firm’s strengths, firm culture, and approach to client service. In keeping with her philosophy of tapping into the experience and knowledge of the firm’s talent, Jones is working to ensure competitiveness by offering clients high-quality service and value while monitoring the changing economic environment.

The article also highlights Stoel Rives’ commitment to increasing diversity and navigating the generation gap. Jones spoke about the firm’s participation in Diversity Lab’s Move The Needle Fund (MTN), a national effort to boost diversity and inclusion among law firms. Additionally, the firm has signed the American Bar Association’s well-being pledge, a national effort to improve the substance use and mental health landscape of the legal profession by helping legal employers support healthy work environments. Jones is keenly aware of the challenges the legal industry faces and the clients’ interests in the firm’s innovations.

“Clients are really interested in making sure that firms are committed to diversity and inclusion. More and more, we’re seeing clients not just say that—they want numbers and metrics to back it up and to understand that the firms they’re working with are providing them diverse teams.” Jones said, “And we know that if you have a diverse team, you’re going to be giving clients better service.”

Read the full article here: “Stoel Rives' Melissa Jones on the Generation Gap in Law Firms, Diversity and the Pacific Northwest.” (Subscription required.)