EVETT SIMMONS, ESQ. NAMED CHAIR OF THE ABA PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DIVERSITY IN THE PROFESSION

Evett Simmons, Esq. a partner with the Ruden McClosky law firm, has been named Chair of the American Bar Association Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession.

Ms. Simmons is Chief Diversity Officer of the Ruden McClosky Law Firm and an elected member of the Firm's Management Committee. She is leading the implementation of the Firm's Diversity Program which was launched throughout the Firm's ten Florida offices last year. Ms. Simmons' practice involves real estate, probate and guardianship litigation. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida.

Ruden McClosky's vision is to be known as a highly competent law firm that is inclusive and diverse. The Diversity Program was developed to advance the firm's commitment to increasing and maintaining diversity at all levels. The Firm aggressively recruits minority attorneys and staff as evidenced by the current personnel compromising 21% minority members firmwide and the broad representation of minority and women attorneys in firm management and on committees.

The American Bar Association's Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession offers programs and services to improve diversity in the "pipeline" to the legal profession. The Council has been charged with increasing the number of people of color on the track to becoming lawyers. This work begins at the grade school and culminates with bar passage.