Foley Hoag LLP is a law firm based in Washington, D.C. It focuses on left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmentalist initiatives. ¹ It also provides pro bono legal services in support of left-of-center views on race, LGBT interests, and abortion access. ²

Background

Foley Hoag LLP is a law firm that was founded in 1943 by Henry Foley and Garrett Hoag. In the 1960s and 1970s, Foley Hoag began offering pro bono legal services to represent Black people in racial discrimination cases, including school desegregation, housing, and employment discrimination. ³

Foley Hoag’s website states that it has given over $4 million to over 500 grantees through its Foley Hoag Foundation since 1981. It makes grants to address wealth disparities amongst ethnic groups and genders. ⁴

DEI Initiatives

Foley Hoag LLP employs diversity, equity, and inclusion  practices in its hiring. As of December 2022, Foley Hoag’s workforce was a self-reported 42 percent women and 29 percent ethnic minority, which the firm argued does not effectively achieve DEI initiatives. It provides trainings and workshops to its employees on how to communicate in compliance with DEI beliefs and how to prevent so-called unconscious bias, as well as a course on introduction to the LGBT community. ⁵

Foley Hoag has a DEI Committee that works with the department and firm managers to discuss DEI initiatives. The committee consists of DEI co-chairs, an equity and inclusion officer, and co-managers. It requires new employees to partner with a committee member to “mentor” them to ensure compliance with its DEI initiatives. ⁶ Foley Hoag allows its associates to bill credit hours towards time spent working on DEI initiatives in the same manner that associates would bill for pro bono work. ⁷

Foley Hoag offers its clients DEI consulting through its DEI committee, which it specifies offers non-legal consulting. It offers “workplace culture” and policy assessments, strategy planning, and communication strategies for complying with DEI principles. Foley Hoag also offers DEI training and coaching for clients. ⁸

Pro Bono Services

Foley Hoag provides pro bono legal representation and prides itself on its litigation provided for left-of-center advocacy groups as well as representing individuals opposing abortion restrictions. It also provides pro bono representation on cases addressing race issues and issues pertaining to LGBT people. ⁹

In October 2023, Foley Hoag became a member of the Colorado Lawyers Committee (CLC), a coalition of law firms that provide pro bono legal services and sister organization to Boston’s Lawyers for Civil Rights. ¹⁰ CLC provides pro bono legal services and engages in political advocacy in support of increasing the number of and funding for welfare programs. ¹¹ It also advocates for reducing restrictions on immigration processes such as those seeking asylum and provides pro bono legal services to immigrants. ¹²

Environmental Initiatives

On its website, Foley Hoag advocates for businesses to engage in environmentalism by reducing activities resulting in carbon emissions and to use weather-dependent energy sources. It states that it engages in business planning and relationships while attempting to prevent carbon emissions. It also engages in pro bono initiatives to represent environmentalist energy companies and supporting organizations. ¹³

1. “Home.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/home/.
2. “Pro Bono.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/culture-community/pro-bono/.
3. “History.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/about/history/.
4. “Culture & Community .” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/culture-community/.
5. “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/culture-community/diversity,-equity-inclusion/.
6.  “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/culture-community/diversity,-equity-inclusion/.
7. “Foley Hoag Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Annual Impact Report 2023.” ISSUU. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://issuu.com/foleyhoagllp/docs/foley_hoag_dei_annual_report_-_design_2023_march_4?fr=sYzM3ODcxNzA2MzM
8. “DEI Consulting Services.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/industries-practices/dei-consulting-services/.
9. “Pro Bono.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/culture-community/pro-bono/.
10. “Foley Hoag Recognized for Pro Bono Work With Colorado Lawyers Committee.” Foley Hoag LLP. October 24, 2023. https://foleyhoag.com/news-and-insights/news/2023/october/foley-hoag-recognized-for-pro-bono-work-with-colorado-lawyers-committee/.
11. “Poverty & Public Benefits.” Colorado Lawyers Committee. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://coloradolawyerscommittee.org/poverty-public-benefits.
12. “Immigration.” Colorado Lawyers Committee. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://coloradolawyerscommittee.org/immigration.
13. “Sustainability.” Foley Hoag LLP. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://foleyhoag.com/culture-community/sustainability/.