Law firms worldwide are grappling with persistent challenges around diversity, equity, and inclusion, alongside growing concerns about attorney wellbeing and mental health. These issues transcend borders, affecting legal professionals from Helsinki to New York, demanding urgent attention and actionable solutions from law firm leadership. It was precisely these challenges that brought me to New York in early May.
I’ll admit it. Walking along the Hudson River towards the Debevoise offices brought back memories of my own law school days in New York and Big Law fantasies. But this time, I was there to sit down with one of the most influential voices in American law: Deborah Enix-Ross, Senior Adviser to the International Dispute Resolution Group of Debevoise & Plimpton and President of the American Bar Association.
As host of the Finnish Bar Association’s podcast “Pääkäsittelyssä” (Main Hearing), I was there to explore her perspectives on diversity and attorney wellbeing. The panoramic views from our glass-walled meeting room seemed fitting for a conversation about the sweeping challenges facing our profession.
During our conversation, Deborah and I explored the significance of diversity in the legal field and the persistent impact of biases and assumptions. We discussed strategies to address these challenges and examined her focus areas as ABA President: civics, civility, and collaboration. She shared her own journey to leadership—from Harlem to international boardrooms—with remarkable candour. It was not easy without role models, she explained, but she always had her parents’ hopes and dreams and the love and support of her community sustaining her.
We addressed the frustratingly slow progress in achieving gender parity in the profession and examined potential strategies for accelerating change. Moving to attorney wellbeing, Deborah acknowledged both the progress made and the ongoing stigma surrounding lawyers’ mental health challenges. Throughout our discussion, her insights made clear why these issues require sustained, measurable action across the global legal community.
The conversation resonated long after our meeting ended. I came away convinced that her insights on civility, bias recognition, and systematic change offered valuable perspectives for law firms and legal professionals working to create more inclusive, sustainable practices. However, what stayed with me most was Deborah’s passion for the law itself.
When she spoke about why she loves being a lawyer and where she finds hope in our profession, she reminded me why so many of us chose this path in the first place. Her wise words remind us all that meaningful change is possible when we approach systemic challenges with both strategic thinking and genuine care for the people who are our profession’s future.
I warmly recommend listening to the full episode for inspiration, insight, and empowering wisdom. “The Power of Diversity and Attorney Wellbeing” is available on all music streaming platforms and on the Finnish Bar Association’s website. “Pääkäsittelyssä” podcast examines the work, life, and societal role of attorneys and legal professionals navigating constant change, addressing the challenges facing our profession today through conversations that offer insights valuable for both professional and personal development.
Key insights from our conversation
Civility as foundation
“We have to be able to have different viewpoints and to express them in a way that is productive and constructive and not destructive. One of the most common examples that is often cited in the US are the Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia ja Ruth Bader Ginsburg. They could’ve not been further apart philosophically, but they were the best of friends. And they were able to do that because, as Justice Bader Ginsburg said: we never tore down each other. We might have attacked ideas, but we didn’t attack each other personally. That’s a lesson we can all learn from.”
Acknowledging our biases
“In my example, if people say they don’t see color, I think it’s what you would like to think. But we absolutely see color, we see gender, we see nationality, we have traits that we ascribe to people before they even open their mouth. If you look at me before I say anything, I am a woman of a certain age, with my hair braided in New York. You might think all kinds of things of me, maybe you’ll think I’m a lawyer, maybe you don’t, depending on what I am wearing that day.”
Define – Goal – Measure
“First, there needs to be a common understanding of what we are talking about and how we are defining it. And then, how are we going to make the improvements, where are we going to make them, when are we going to make them, and how long is it going to take. The only way to do this is to have goals and then measure them – and hold people accountable.”
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