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Lawyers

Diane O. Lucas

Lawyers

Diane O. Lucas

Counsel, Head of Racial Justice Pro Bono
New York

Head of Racial Justice Pro Bono. Leads our efforts to address structural racism and social injustice and inequality experienced by clients in the criminal justice system and elsewhere.

Diane is our Head of Racial Justice Pro Bono. She works with lawyers across the firm and with our nonprofit and community partners to develop and supervise pro bono representations that reflect our commitment to clients who have experienced racial and social injustice and inequality.

Diane has co-led our collaboration with the Louisiana-based Promise of Justice Initiative to obtain relief for people serving prison sentences based upon convictions by non-unanimous juries under a Jim Crow-era law. She also led our efforts on behalf of Eric Garner’s family in the judicial inquiry pursuing transparency regarding Garner’s death.

A frequent speaker on racial justice and civil rights issues, Diane is co-president of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. Prior to joining Davis Polk, she held positions at the Justice Collaborative, the Civil Rights Bureau of the New York State AG’s office, and the Legal Aid Society.

Education

J.D., Harvard Law School
  • General Editor, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
B.A., Economics, New York University
  • cum laude

Clerkships

Law Clerk, Hon. Bernice B. Donald, U.S. District Court, W.D. Tennessee, 2007-2008

Prior experience

  • Counsel, Head of Racial Justice Pro Bono, 2024-present
  • Pro Bono Counsel for Racial Justice Initiatives, Davis Polk, 2020-2023
  • Director of Community Engagement and Senior Legal Counsel, Justice Collaborative, 2018-2020
  • Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau, Office of the New York State Attorney General, 2014-2018
  • Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense Division, Legal Aid Society, 2011-2014
  • Associate, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, 2008-2011

Qualifications and admissions

  • State of New York
  • U.S. District Court, C.D. Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, E.D. New York
  • U.S. District Court, N.D. New York
  • U.S. District Court, S.D. New York
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