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Miller Canfield Appoints Chief Diversity Officer
Miller Canfield is pleased to announce that it has appointed Michelle Crockett to the position of Chief Diversity Officer.
"This is a great step for the firm, and one that is intended to reinforce the firm's commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable working environment, free from implicit bias and structural racism," said Miller Canfield CEO Michael McGee. "And we are fortunate to have Michelle, who is the best person in the country to do the job."
Crockett has previously served as the firm's Hiring Chair/Diversity and Professional Development Principal. Her achievements include leading the firm to be included in the first class of major law firms nationwide to pilot the Mansfield Rule, which requires that at least 30 percent of candidates for lateral hiring and promotion considerations be women, minority and LGBTQ candidates.
Additionally, Miller Canfield is one of 51 firms that earned the Mansfield Certified Plus designation in 2019—and one of only 27 to earn it two consecutive years—by meeting the requirement of at least 30 percent diverse lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees.
In the newly created role, Crockett will chair the firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, which will propose to the firm's managing directors changes to firm structures and policies that can move the firm toward a more diverse and welcoming environment. The Council is comprised of the chairs of the following firm committees: Diversity, Summer Associates, Mentoring, Women of Miller Canfield, Pro Bono, and Associates, in addition to the Chief Operating Officer.
Under Crockett's leadership, the firm has solidified its position as a leader in the area of diversity and inclusion, and has earned national recognition for its efforts and initiatives. The firm attributes much of its success to Crockett's relentless efforts to create actionable, measurable, results-driven initiatives that foster meaningful and sustainable change. She developed an aggressive two-year diversity plan that sets specific targets within leadership ranks, including the firm's managing directors, to increase representation across the board.
The results have been remarkable. Specifically:
- 49% of Miller Canfield's associates are women
- 40% of non-equity principals are women
- 40% of managing directors are women
- 40% of resident directors are minorities and women
In addition to her duties at Miller Canfield, Crockett teaches Race in the Law and K-12 Education Law at the University of Michigan Law School. She is a fellow of the American College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, a member of Michigan Lawyers Weekly's Leaders in the Law Class of 2020, and chairs the State Bar of Michigan Labor & Employment Law Section and the Michigan Community Resources Board of Directors.
