Home > People > Norma Jackson, J.D.

Norma Jackson, J.D.

Chief Diversity & Attorney Development Officer

St. Louis
314 552 6453 314 552 6453 direct


Norma uses her creativity, passion and experience to manage attorney professional development and lead Thompson Coburn's extensive diversity efforts at all levels of the Firm, among clients, and in our legal and business communities across the country.

As Chief Diversity & Attorney Development Officer, Norma serves as a thought leader and resource to Firm leadership, and actively collaborates with practice leaders, committee leaders, and the Firm's Management Committee to develop and drive the execution of the Firm's talent development, and diversity and inclusion strategies.

Norma supports internal affinity groups, leads work on the Total Commitment® Women's Initiative program, and facilitates Thompson Coburn's frequent partnerships and collaborations with diverse bar associations and law student associations in each of our markets. She also works to maintain the Firm's top-tier rankings for national workplace honors focused on women's leadership, LGBT equality, and racial and ethnic diversity.

Drawing on her experience in human resources management, Norma plays a special role in the recruitment, retention and advancement of diverse attorneys and staff. Through her use of data, surveys, and in-person interviews, Norma is skilled at identifying needed areas of improvement and developing smart, practical diversity strategies. The underlying goal of these strategies is the same: Create welcoming work environments and lay the groundwork for the lasting success of professionals from underrepresented groups.

Before coming to Thompson Coburn, Norma served in a number of recruitment and diversity-focused positions at the University of Missouri, most recently as the Director of Faculty and Professional Staff Diversity Enhancement and Engagement for the university's College of Education. In her time at the University of Missouri, where she also obtained a law degree, Norma led cultural competency programs for faculty and professional staff, coordinated annual diversity awards that recognized outstanding leaders in diversity and inclusion, and created the university's first standalone diversity and inclusion center within a college on campus.

Norma also served as co-chair of the College of Education's Diversity Committee and led the launch of the college's first-ever chapter of the National Alliance of Black School Educators.

News

Thompson Coburn Achieves Mansfield Rule 7.0 “Certified Plus” Designation

Thompson Coburn Releases 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Report

Drew Moore, Zoe Spector Join Chicago Bar Leadership Program

Norma Jackson Discusses Firm Affinity Groups and DEI Efforts

Jessica Wang, Evelyn Clark Join Top Legal Diversity Programs

Thompson Coburn Achieves Mansfield Rule 6.0 ‘Certified Plus’ Designation

Thompson Coburn Collaborates with SkillBurst, A Generative AI Training Program

Norma Jackson and Fatima Khan selected for SLU Law Community Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Thompson Coburn again named to Bloomberg Law’s DEI Framework for law firms committed to diversity, equity and inclusion

Thompson Coburn named to Bloomberg Law’s new national framework for law firm diversity, equity and inclusion

Thompson Coburn achieves Mansfield Rule 4.0 ‘Certified Plus’ status

Thompson Coburn signs on for Mansfield 5.0 to expand diversity and equity in Big Law

Norma Jackson selected for 2021-2022 Class of Leadership St. Louis

Booker Shaw receives Diversity & Inclusion Award from Missouri Lawyers Media

New year, new ideas for diversity and inclusion!

Thompson Coburn donates $50,000 to St. Louis Freedom Suits Memorial

Thompson Coburn achieves Mansfield Rule 3.0 ‘Certified Plus’ status

2020 Eagleton Scholarship awarded to Yasmin Younis

Norma Jackson receives Diversity & Inclusion Award from Missouri Lawyers Media

Our pledge: A statement from Thompson Coburn

2019 Eagleton Scholarship awarded to Sydney Latimore

Thompson Coburn receives MCCA George B. Vashon Innovator Award

Norma Jackson joins Thompson Coburn as Director of Diversity and Inclusion