At Harrity, we believe that the ‘practice of law’ is advanced by a more diverse legal team – with diversity of background, upbringing, education, and perspective comes quality legal innovation. Hosted by Elaine Spector, The Diversity Channel is a collection of resources aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in our field by sharing ideas and sparking conversations.
Elaine has over 20 years of experience in intellectual property law and is Harrity’s first female Partner. In addition to her outstanding background in patent litigation and prosecution, Elaine is an avid believer in giving back and passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion in the legal field. She serves as Co-Chair of the Harrity Diversity Committee, Vice Chair of the IPO Diversity Committee, and Chair of the IPO D&I Committee Outreach Subcommittee. Elaine is also serves on the AIPLA Women in IP Law Committee as Chair of the Global Networking Event, Chair of the Outreach Committee, and as an Executive Team Member. She is a Board Member at No More Stolen Childhoods, a loving wife, and a proud mother of three.
Harrity Partner and Diversity Co-Chair Elaine Spector shares tips and sparks conversations to drive diversity in the legal field in this weekly short-video series.
PLAY ALL EPISODES
Harrity Diversity Co-Chair Elaine Spector meets with diversity thought-leaders to discuss the benefits, challenges, and processes associated with increasing diversity in the field in this quarterly webinar series.
WATCH OUR FIRST DIVERSITY DIALOGUE WEBINAR
“STRATEGIES FOR MOVING THE NEEDLE WITH RESPECT TO DIVERSITY IN THE PATENT BAR”
FEATURING
SHRUTI COSTALES, SENIOR COUNSEL, HP
SOPHIA PILIOURAS, PRESIDENT, MCCA
Diversity Dialogue Host Elaine Spector is joined by Wardrobe Stylist and Confidence Curator Melanie Lippman for this special holiday-themed networking event aimed at improving confidence among women attorneys through simple adjustments to daily routines.
“CONFIDENCE THROUGH YOUR CLOSET: SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER & BEING THE BEST YOU IN THE NEW YEAR”
FEATURING
MELANIE LIPPMAN
“DIVERSITY IN INNOVATION”
FEATURING
SCOTT BARKER, MICRON
CHARU KURANI, FACEBOOK
SANDRA NOWAK, 3M
COMING SOON
The purpose of the ThinkTank is to brainstorm and ultimately launch several new programs to help underrepresented groups register for the patent bar and provide resources for these minorities to succeed in a patent career, with the goal of increasing diversity in IP.
Our first ThinkTank took place from February to May of 2022, with three law firms – Casimir Jones, Osha Bergman Watanabe Burton, and Meunier Carlin & Curfman – implementing impactful programs focused on increasing the number of women patent practitioners. Our next ThinkTank will focus on a different minority demographic.
Sandra Maxey Featured on World of Marketing Podcast
The Diversity Problem in Patent Law
Patent Pathways™ Webinar: How You Can Get Involved & Help Solve the Diversity Problem in Patent Law
Elaine Spector Featured in The Patent Lawyer Magazine in a Women in IP Leadership spotlight on inspirations, experiences, and ideas for equality.
John Harrity Featured in Law 360 on Disrupting Law Firm Models
Elaine Spector on How to Make the Future DigitALL: Persevere
Celebrating Women’s History Month – MFI 2.0 Spotlight – Shawna Lemon
Elaine Spector Featured on Inclusion Evolution Podcast
Celebrating Women’s History Month – Harrity for Parity Spotlight – Bree Vculek
Celebrating Women’s History Month – Harrity for Parity Spotlight – Bree Vculek’s Advice for Others
Celebrating Women’s History Month – Harrity for Parity Spotlight – Bree Vculek’s Experience in the Field
Diversity Dialogue ThinkTank: An Update on Programs to Increase the Representation of Women in IP
Celebrating Black History Month – MFI 2.0 Spotlight – Ted Wood
Celebrating Black History Month – MFI 2.0 Spotlight – James Bennin
Celebrating Black History Month – MFI 2.0 Spotlight – Arlene Neal
Elaine Spector Goes Viral with #BreakMomBias
Harrity Welcomed Seven Exceptional Attorneys in 2022
Elaine Spector Featured in Brink News Article, “Why Is There a Chronic Lack of Diversity in the Legal Profession?”
Harrity Joins Google, Amazon, Meta & More in DEI Collective
Elaine Spector Named WIPR Influential Woman in IP
Tell Me Something Good with Elaine Spector
Harrity Featured in Bloomberg Law: Moving the Needle
Onyx IP Group, Launched from Harrity’s Minority Firm Incubator, Creates Diversity Scholarship
Elaine Spector Featured in ChIPs for World IP Day
The legal community needs to recognize the importance of creating an unbiased, equal, and harmonious working environment for all legal professionals. Unfortunately, the lack of diversity is widespread in the legal field, and the numbers show the industry is moving at a slow pace to address the issue.
In 2018, 85% of lawyers in the U.S. were Caucasian, according to the American Bar Association. Another report on diversity in U.S. law firms found that racially diverse women are the most underrepresented group in the legal profession. Other underrepresented groups include the LGBTQ2+ community, lawyers with disabilities, veterans, Hispanic/Latinx, Alaskan Native/American Indian, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Asian, and Multiracial lawyers. Harrity is committed to addressing this issue through our Diversity Mission and numerous diversity-focused initiatives.
Our Diversity Mission is to promote and nurture a respectful, highly engaged, family friendly, and inclusive culture that values the diversity of our talented team with diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, skills/talents, and capabilities. Our Diversity Programs are focused on serving our communities by helping to increase the number of diverse legal practitioners and enhancing their quality of practice in patent law.