DEI in Law: Every Voice Matters
In the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Philadelphia Lawyer article on DEI in the legal industry, Cohen Seglias alumnus Matthew Tom, now with the U.S. Courts of Appeals, reflects on his experiences with bias and the importance of meaningful opportunities for diverse attorneys. He expresses gratitude to Cohen Seglias, particularly Ed Seglias and Matt Gioffre, for hiring him as a first-year associate and providing a supportive environment where he could grow. Tom credits the firm for recognizing talent beyond traditional markers like race, economic class and educational background—an approach that aligns with Cohen Seglias’ commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. We believe that creating an environment where individuals from all backgrounds feel welcomed, respected, and valued strengthens our team, enhances our legal practice, and drives innovative solutions for our clients.
At an interview with a large, established law firm, I once asked my interviewer, “Why did you go into law having worked so long as a scientist?” and received an answer that I have never forgotten. “Honestly, I was tired of working with people who can’t speak English, and, by the way, are you from China?”
Back then, as a student-loan-saddled 2L seeking work in a post-Great Recession economy, I hastened to reply, “no sir, I was born and raised in Allentown, PA and the proud grandson of a U.S. Army veteran,” while the National Anthem blared in my mind. No surprise: I didn’t get that job. But I did get my first job out of law school with Ed Seglias and Matt Gioffre at Cohen Seglias (thanks, Ed!).
For a while, I kept that experience, like many others, to myself, partly out of suspicion that sharing them would curb my job prospects (recall the student loans) and partly out of the suspicion that it must happen to everyone. (Among other experiences, I was once accused by a witness on cross-examination as not being “American.”) But as I worked longer as a lawyer (and had a kid!), and as my loan balance dropped from six figures to five, I started sharing. And, to my surprise, some people were shocked. So, here’s my, obvious to some and less obvious to others, observation about barriers in the law: stereotypes and racism exist.
Luckily for the profession, and luckily for me, as it turns out, I have seen at least three ways to dismantle barriers in our profession.
First, do what Cohen Seglias did for me, and what Judge Petrese B. Tucker did for me too when she gave me the honor of serving as her clerk—hire someone who doesn’t look like you. As a first-generation lawyer from a family that includes former child sweatshop workers from Hong Kong, I have been blessed by strangers who have given me the opportunity to work for them despite being of a different race, economic class, educational pedigree, and ethnicity.
Second, show the next generation of lawyers that law practice is as diverse as they are. For this method of barrier dismantling, I thank The Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement, which has, through its Literature-Based Mock Trial and Read Aloud programs, put me before students from across the city and state to teach them about civics and what being a lawyer means. These students, some of whom are Asian, but many of whom are not, see that the law involves people from all walks of life. And just as diversity of identity and diversity of thought lends legitimacy to our jury system, so too does showing the diversity of the bench and bar lend legitimacy to the profession among our students (who will one day be our lawyers).
Third, share your experience with stereotyping and racism until no one is left who might be shocked to hear that they affect even the largest and most prestigious institutions in our community. Here, I thank The Philadelphia Lawyer, for letting me share some of my experiences with its readers. While I have had some struggles as a Chinese-American lawyer, I submit that the profession has been changing for the better. Let’s keep up the change!
Matthew G. Tom
U.S. Courts of Appeals
