Janice Grubin, partner and Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Area co-chair at Barclay Damon and vice president of the LGBT Bar of New York, was featured in the Law360 Pulse article “LGBT Bar of NY Vice President Talks Pride and Backlash” about receiving the Tri-State Diversity Council LGBTQ+ Leadership Award, changes in the legal industry for LGBTQIA+ attorneys since her career began, the recent uptick in anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation, and what her plans were for Pride weekend in New York City.
In her Q&A with Law360 Pulse, Janice spoke extensively about her roles with the LGBT Bar of NY, specifically her role as co-chair of the judiciary committee. The committee interviews candidates for civil and supreme court judges in New York State. She also spoke about her leadership roles at Barclay Damon, including as a member of the firm’s LGBTQIA+ Employee Affinity Network.
Regarding how the legal industry has changed for LGBTQIA+ lawyers and staff, Janice said:
I think the legal industry has undergone a sea change. I think that there’s a perception, at least in the circles I’ve been in, that it is very important to have diversity in your lawyer ranks. Firms are working hard at acknowledging the people in their firm who are LGBTQ+ and doing what they can so that people see they are in support of those persons.
It’s seen as, I think, cool, if you will, and the right approach to take. I think some of that is fueled by clients’ concerns, especially at the big firms. Clients want the public to understand that diversity is important to them, and they want to make sure that their advisers embrace that, as well. And I think that insistence at the corporate level is fueling the change at the law firm level.
Janice also highlighted a few things she thinks younger LGBTQIA+ lawyers should know. She said, “. . . even though things are so different today—and that’s a great thing—they should always try not to forget what it was like 30, 40 years ago and even beyond that. These days, we have to be very vigilant, because what is going on in many states whose legislatures are trying to roll back rights that have been granted to the LGBTQ+ community, especially our trans brothers and sisters.”
Subscribers to Law360 Pulse can read the full article here.