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Diversity and Cultural Competence Services

            LFOA provides professional diversity consulting services of the highest ethical standards and business practices to assist companies create work environments that attract and sustain diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation and disability. 

           As diversity advisor, LFOA conducts interviews, focus groups, collects and analyzes data, presents analysis, and makes recommendations to the client’s designated diversity officer or team for their consideration and input.  The client’s existing structures, demographics, policies, practices, programs, strategic goals, culture, mission, market demands and leadership are reviewed in light of how they advance or impede the success of all employees.  We examine how all employees are treated within the client’s culture to fairly assess and benchmark the success of their diversity efforts, if any, to date and the hurdles yet to overcome.   

           LFOA makes every effort to engage all designated participants in a safe and confidential process, assure that their input is welcomed and considered, and encourage open exchanges of ideas and solutions.  Communication is essential to success, and we provide regular process and progress reports.

           LFOA strives to identify real and perceived barriers to success, recommend strategies to overcome them, and ultimately serve as advisors on culture, values, organization, practices and leadership.  The solutions are tailored to the client’s needs.  We do not have a cookie cutter solution.

For Teveia Barnes' Bio, click here. For Dr. Marlene Jones' bio, click here.

For more information on our services, please contact LFOA at 415-479-3645.

Conceptual Framework of Cultural Competence 

Cultural competence requires that law firms and law departments: 

     Have a defined set of values and principles, and demonstrate behaviors, attitudes, policies and structures that enable them to work effectively cross-culturally;

     Have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of a diverse firm and the communities they serve; and

     Incorporate the above in all aspects of policy making, administration, practice and involve key stakeholders and communities. 

Cultural competence is a developmental process that evolves over an extended period of time.  Different constituencies in a law firm or law department may be at various levels of awareness, knowledge and skills along the cultural competence continuum. 

For more information on our services, please contact LFOA at 415-479-3645.

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