McGuireWoods associate Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette has been honored as one of the Triangle Business Journal’s “Leaders in Diversity” for 2020. The annual awards recognize individuals, nonprofits and businesses in North Carolina’s Triangle region for inclusive treatment of others, advocacy for underrepresented groups and multicultural marketing.
Based in the firm’s Raleigh office, Mallette represents businesses in commercial litigation. She is the immediate past president of the Capital City Lawyers Association, a voluntary bar association comprised largely of minority lawyers, judges and elected officials. The CCLA assists underrepresented communities through outreach and pro bono service and awards scholarships to minority law students. Under Mallette’s leadership as president, the group broadened its focus to encourage younger students to consider legal careers.
Mallette served a three-year term as second vice president of the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers, playing a significant role expanding the organization’s membership and program offerings. She is a member of the Junior League of Raleigh and serves on the organization’s government relations and public affairs committee. She is also on the board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA and serves as co-chair of its Racial Equity Committee. She recently spoke at the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Conference.
A former U.S. Air Force captain and former attorney in the Air Force JAG Corps, Mallette is a council member on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Military and Veterans Law Section. She also is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s 2019-2021 Diverse Leaders Academy, which provides opportunities for lawyers in underrepresented groups to serve in leadership roles.
“I am honored to be included in this esteemed group of individuals and organizations who are doing important work to advance diversity and inclusion in our region,” Mallette said. “I am grateful to my McGuireWoods colleagues for their support.”
Mallette earlier this year received the Triangle Business Journal’s Women in Business Award. In addition, she recently was named one of 2020’s “40 Under 40: Nation’s Best Advocates” by the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American lawyers and judges.
“Jocelyn’s leadership and dedication to making our profession and our community more inclusive sets a powerful example and we are proud to see her receive this well-deserved honor,” said Mary Nash Rusher, managing partner of the firm’s Raleigh office.
Mallette and her fellow award recipients will be honored during a virtual event on Oct. 6 and profiled in the Triangle Business Journal’s Oct. 16 edition