Former Obama aide to review civil rights law firm

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A one-time aide to former first lady Michelle Obama will review workplace practices at a prominent civil rights law firm that fired its founder.

A statement from the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center says attorney Tina Tchen will conduct a “top-to-bottom” review of the liberal non-profit organization.

The law centre is best known for its work monitoring extremist groups and fired founder and prominent civil rights attorney Morris Dees for unspecified reasons last week. It promised a review of its workplace environment.

Critics have accused the organization of a lack of diversity in management.

Tchen was chief of staff to the former first lady. She now works for a Chicago law firm focusing on workplace issues including gender and racial equity and sexual harassment.