Diversity, equity, inclusion.

These are more than just words here. They are long-standing principles for our firm’s policies, programs, and work in the community.

— Rebecca Goldman, Member

Diversity, equity, inclusion. These are more than just words here. They are long-standing principles for our firm’s policies, programs, and work in the community.

— Rebecca Jacobs Goldman, Member

Our Values

For the entirety of the firm’s history, Lerman Senter has wholeheartedly and vigorously supported equal opportunity in our own recruitment, hiring, and promotion practices for all — regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Beyond our offices, our commitment continues, with Lerman Senter and individual attorneys engaged in award-winning, life-changing contributions of their time and leadership to the community at large. At every level, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion propels us. Our actions define us.

Civic Engagement

Over the decades, Lerman Senter and our attorneys have supported public interest and civil rights organizations that promote diversity in the legal profession, as well as diversity in ownership, employment and management in the communications, broadband and related industries.

Recruitment, Hiring, and Career Development Within Lerman Senter

Lerman Senter actively seeks out and supports the careers of diverse attorneys and staff members. The firm:

Conducts outreach to diverse law students through organizations such as the Black Law Students Association chapters at local law schools; the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC); the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) and the ABA Forum on Communications Law.
Participates in organizations supporting legal fellowship programs, including mentoring and training, to a diverse, inclusive group of recent law school graduates.
Is an inaugural supporter of the FCBA’s Diversity Pipeline Program (DPP), furthering the careers and education of first-year law students from historically underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.
- Lerman Senter has been an Anchor Employer since DPP’s inception and has hired a DPP student every summer.
- Several attorneys served as mentors for the firm’s Summer Associates and other DPP participants.
- S. Jenell Trigg was a keynote speaker for the DPP 2024 Summer Sessions and a member of the faculty for the inaugural TMT Law & Policy Certificate Program, specializing in global privacy and data security .

Pro Bono and Public Service

The firm also has longstanding commitments to pro bono work that supports non-profit, civil rights and other public interest organizations. Individual attorneys have also aided diverse individuals and small businesses that needed legal guidance or advocacy.

Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion has been a longstanding priority for Lerman Senter.

Steven A. Lerman, Co-Founder, former Managing Member and Counsel Emeritus, co-founded and chairs a 15-year-old scholarship and mentoring program at his alma mater, Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts for financially challenged and underserved high school students. Graduating seniors are awarded college scholarships and then assigned mentors for all four years of college, and beyond. Steve currently mentors 18 young adults, ages 18 to 35. His program has a 100% college graduation rate, and all of his mentees are in college, graduate school or are gainfully employed.
Steven A. Lerman is a longstanding member of the Advisory Board of One Can Help, a 20 year old Massachusetts-based nonprofit which assists indigent families whose children become involved in juvenile court processes.
Sally A. Buckman and S. Jenell Trigg serve as faculty for the NAB Leadership Foundation’s Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) Program. The BLT program, an executive MBA-type program that provides the fundamentals of purchasing, owning and running successful radio and television stations, celebrates its 25^th Anniversary in 2024-2025 and Lerman Senter is a sponsor of this milestone anniversary.
Jeff Carlisle, Member, represents Mission: Launch, a non-profit that improves the lives of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families by providing opportunities for employment, housing and financial services.
Jeff Carlisle and Sally Buckman represent the American Press Institute, a non-profit that has, since 1946, supported local and community news media with research and programs that improve news coverage. This includes the API Inclusion index, which improves how newsrooms cover communities of color by helping newsrooms understand how certain practices can be inequitable.
Louis Levy represents MMTC on intellectual property matters.
Since 2003, S. Jenell Trigg has served in various capacities for the FCC’s Federal Advisory Diversity Committees, e.g., appointed member, co-lead of FCC Supplier Diversity events, subject matter expert, consultant, and member of the Access to Capital Taskforce.
S. Jenell Trigg was a co-founder of the ABA Forum on Communications Law’s Annual First Amendment Diversity Moot Court Competition. She has served as a sponsor, judge and bailiff for the competition and mentor for several local teams.

In addition to diversity, equity and inclusion, Lerman Senter and its attorneys are also committed to other important issues, such as recognition and support for mental health issues, inclusion of persons with disabilities, combating hate, improving the foster care system and promoting ownership and management in communications sectors, and access to broadband services for all Americans.

Sally A. Buckman is the President of the Board of Integrated Living Opportunities, a non-profit organization based in the DC metropolitan area whose mission is to empower individuals with disabilities on their journey to independence by fostering self-advocacy, building inclusive communities, and supporting personal growth.
Steven A. Lerman has served for the past ten years as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Active Minds, Inc., the nation’s preeminent non-profit organization addressing the youth mental health crisis in our country. Active Minds impacts more than 1,000 college campuses and high schools throughout all 50 states, Canada, Australia, Italy, Bermuda and Puerto Rico, has 8000 student members and impacts over one million students each year.
Carmel Amero is a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) for two children in the foster care system. She volunteers with “Voices for Children – Montgomery County”, a private, non-profit organization that trains and supports CASA volunteers who speak up for the needs and well-being of children in foster care.
Rebecca J. Goldman is a member of the Washington D.C. Region Associate Board for the Anti-Defamation League, which serves D.C., Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. The anti-hate organization is a global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and fighting bigotry.
Since 2022, Jeff Carlisle has served on the Aventiv Technology Independent Advisory Board, which is responsible for advising one of the country’s largest providers of communications services to correctional facilities as it turns into a modern technology business providing education, re-entry and rehabilitation services in addition to communications.
Jeff Carlisle represents the non-profit American Porphyrias Expert Collaborative, which coordinates research efforts on various porphyria-related illnesses and causes in the US and abroad.
Lou Levy and S. Jenell Trigg secured the copyrights and ownership of the acclaimed 2005 documentary/indie film “A Girl Like Me” on behalf of Kiri Davis, then-a young award-winning Black student filmmaker.

Recognition and Honors

The following are a few examples of recognition of the firm’s and individual pro bono work:

Lerman Senter received the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council’s (MMTC) Distinguished Pro Bono Achievement Award.
Steven A. Lerman was designated a National Mental Health Champion by Active Minds.
S. Jenell Trigg received the MMTC Rev. Dr. Everett Parker Lifetime Achievement Award.
S. Jenell Trigg received the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Lifetime Achievement Award as Public Interest Legal Advocate Leader.
S. Jenell Trigg received United Church of Christ, Office of Communications’ Donald H. McGannon Award.
S. Jenell Trigg was inducted into MMTC’s Hall of Fame.
S. Jenell Trigg is recognized as a “Dean” of the FCBA and is a recipient of the FCBA’s Distinguished Service Award.
Steven A. Lerman and S. Jenell Trigg received MMTC’s Extraordinary Service Award for their work on the FCC Equity/Debt Plus Task Force to foster increased minority and women broadcast ownership.

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Our Values

Civic Engagement

Recruitment, Hiring, and Career Development Within Lerman Senter

Pro Bono and Public Service

Recognition and Honors

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