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A National Conversation on Racism: the Legal Profession's Role in Driving Equality

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March 08, 2023 | Analysis

To Improve DEI Outcomes, Firms Must Address Pitches and Work Allocation, Consultants Say

"We can't just be focused on events and activities, and we can't just be focused on changing hearts and minds," said Alexis Robertson, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Foley & Lardner. "It has to be more of a systems-focused approach."
6 minute read
March 03, 2023 | News

Minnesota Law Dean to Become Both the First Black President and First Gay President of Bates College

"While I am excited and honored by this new professional opportunity, I can't possibly convey in words my full admiration and gratitude to you, my friends and colleagues," Dean Garry Jenkins wrote in a message to the University of Minnesota Law School community Wednesday. "I am thankful for the brilliant and dedicated law school leadership team (past and present) I've had the honor to work alongside, and I appreciate the culture we've all supported, built together, and nurtured."
5 minute read
March 03, 2023 | News

12 Attorneys of Color Appointed to Lead Hair-Relaxer Lawsuits

"It's one of the most racially diverse slates we've ever seen," said Diandra "Fu" Debrosse Zimmermann, of DiCello Levitt, of the leadership team, which a federal judge approved on Thursday. She and Ben Crump of Ben Crump Law, who both founded Shades of Mass, are two of the co-lead counsel.
3 minute read
March 02, 2023 | News

Alena Allen to Become First Black Dean of LSU Law

"My mother applied to college in 1965," Alena Allen said in an email to Law.com on Thursday. "She only applied to Southern in Baton Rouge" because "LSU admitted its first Black undergraduate in 1964 so my mom did not view attending LSU as a viable option."
5 minute read
February 16, 2023 | Commentary

The Patent Oath and Its Legacy for Black Inventorship

African Americans continue to be underrepresented among patent holders as Black contributions to innovation have been historically overlooked.
5 minute read
February 14, 2023 | News

Howard Law Dean to Become Mount Holyoke's First Black President

"It is an understatement to say I am excited to join the vibrant and dynamic Mount Holyoke community; in truth, I am ecstatic and exhilarated," Danielle Holley said in a statement. "My personal and professional endeavors reflect my commitment to create educational opportunities for talented and deserving students, including those who may encounter doors that are closed or unwelcome."
6 minute read
January 26, 2023 | Q&A

'The World Is Changing': Why Former Diamondbacks CLO Became a DEI Champion

"Long ago, I learned that I can't be happy if I can't be my authentic self. ... I focused on being myself, and eventually people got comfortable with me," said Nona Lee, who rose to the heights in the white, male-dominated world of professional sports.
11 minute read
December 15, 2022 | Video

'It's Important for All of Us To Lift as We Climb': Black Women Judges Discuss Diversifying the Courts

"We sometimes get in our own way because we don't see things as possible," New York Court of Appeals Judge Shirley Troutman said.
2 minute read
December 15, 2022 | News

Howard University Partners With Kaplan to Offer Free Test Prep for LSAT/Bar

"Part of our mission at Howard University is ensuring that education is accessible to students, regardless of their economic status," Anthony K. Wutoh, provost and chief academic officer at Howard University, said in a statement.
2 minute read
December 06, 2022 | News

Minnesota Law and Jones Day Establish Diversity Scholarship

"While the full scholarship is amazing, the package of opportunities that comes with this is potentially life-changing for the selected student," Mark A. Cohen, director of communications for Minnesota Law, told Law.com.
4 minute read
December 12, 2022

Ahead of the Curve: How a Year of Massive Change Could Impact Diversity in Legal Ed

This week, we're analyzing what effect law schools possibly becoming test-optional and law schools pulling out of the U.S. News education rankings may have on diversifying the legal profession.
6 minute read
November 15, 2022 | News

Minnesota Law Adds Racial Equity and Justice Milestone Program

The program "aims to widen students' understanding of the relationship between race and American law, while identifying and working to minimize biases," Ra'Shya Ghee, a 2013 graduate of Minnesota Law and assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion, said in a statement.
4 minute read
November 08, 2022

Maine State Bar Association Report Says Attorneys of Color Are 'Largely Invisible' to White Colleagues

"The survey results are more or less what could be expected from members of a Bar that is more than 99 percent white," attorneys Thomas Douglas, Deborah Ibonwa and Shamara Bailey wrote in an article included in the report.
3 minute read
November 02, 2022 | News

41 Legal Departments Achieve Mansfield Rule Certification

"To boost diversity in legal leadership, everyone has to commit, and the Mansfield Rule certification process kept us accountable to that commitment while helping us formalize our existing process," Eaton Chief Legal Officer Terry Szmagala wrote.
3 minute read
October 20, 2022 | Analysis

Inside Track: Legal Departments' Diversity Challenges Greater Than Study Might Suggest

Companies are hellbent on making sure they're diversifying their C-suites, but they don't always apply the same efforts to rank-and-file legal jobs.
4 minute read
October 20, 2022 | News

In the Am Law 100, Mansfield Rule Participation Lags Among Most-Profitable Firms

Six of the 10 most profitable firms aren't Mansfield-certified, setting them apart from the 78% of the Am Law 100 that earned Mansfield Rule 5.0 certification.
5 minute read
October 18, 2022 | News

Two-Thirds of Nation's Biggest Firms Are Mansfield 5.0-Certified

A total of 165 law firms achieved the latest Mansfield certification as Diversity Lab urged firms to double down on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the face of a potential recession.
3 minute read
October 17, 2022

Ahead of the Curve: Exploring Recent Law School Diversity Initiatives

This week, we're digging further into five unique law school diversity initiatives that I wrote about so far this month.
6 minute read
October 06, 2022 | Commentary

How to Promote More Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Your Workplace

Today's workforce is more diverse, well-educated, and multi-generational than ever – and wields more power in a tough hiring market. If you want to design a workplace that appeals to them, it means that you'll have to not only be more flexible, adaptable, and open-minded.
4 minute read
August 23, 2022 | Conversation

'Shades of Mass': Black Attorneys Push for More Active Role in MDL Leadership

Black attorneys hope to foster more diversity and meaningful participation in MDL leadership committees by launching a new interest group focused on educating diverse attorneys about mass torts.
5 minute read
August 24, 2022 | News

New Study Provides Unique Snapshot of Legal Department Diversity

The ALM Intelligence/Corporate Counsel report found that the departments have made greater strides in hiring diverse talent for leadership roles than law firms have, but still largely tilt white male.
2 minute read
August 16, 2022 | News

Newest Mansfield Rule Broadens Leadership Hiring Considerations, Pushes for Transparent Advancement and Compensation Policies

The sixth iteration of the diversity certification requires firms to consider lawyers from each of four underrepresented categories for leadership roles.
2 minute read
June 17, 2022

'Pressure for Progress': Fortune 500 Sees Surge in Diverse, Female GCs

"The candidate pool for minorities has expanded but still has a long way to go," said John Barker, managing partner of search firm BarkerGilmore.
5 minute read
June 15, 2022 | News

'Alarming and Disappointing': Jurists, Bar Associations Tackle Decline in Black Attorneys

"The Road Map to Law School is a program that I developed to help give Black college students guidance on the law school admission process," said Ira Foster, Georgia Legal Service Program General Counsel. "The program also gives the college students guidance on what career fields and legal opportunities are available after law school."
5 minute read
June 14, 2022

HBCU Law Schools Face Severe Underfunding: 'Do We Have a Belt' Left to Tighten?

"We carry the weight of diversifying the profession," Florida A&M University College of Law dean Deidre Keller said.
7 minute read
May 31, 2022 | Analysis

Big Law's Record-Breaking Diversity Gains Show Industry's Commitment to Progress

The 2022 Diversity Scorecard shows the legal industry turned a mirror on itself to achieve the biggest year-over-year improvement on record.
8 minute read
May 25, 2022 | Analysis

Duane Morris, Ballard Spahr to Roll Out Mandatory Implicit Bias Training This Year

"So much of the data out there tell us that the tipping point of the career death spiral for so many diverse lawyers is lack of access to equitable work assignments," said Duane Morris' diversity chief Joe West.
5 minute read
May 10, 2022 | Analysis

'Fascinating Moment': ABA's Potential Nixing of Law School Admissions Test Requirement Raises Hope—and Skepticism

While the move would be welcomed by many who believe it could, in theory, make law school more accessible to diverse applicants, its practical effect could prove muted. Still, advocates see it as a potential step in the right direction.
8 minute read
May 09, 2022

Ahead of the Curve: Are Standardized Tests 'Valid' and 'Reliable' In the Law School Admissions Process?

This week, we're analyzing the news that the Council of the American Bar Association's Section of Legal Education and Admissions is considering eliminating the requirement of a standardized test for law school admissions.
6 minute read
April 21, 2022 | Research

'I'm A Black Man.' Attorneys of Color Make Inroads in MDL Leadership

About 16% of attorneys appointed to leadership roles in multidistrict litigation created in 2021 identified as nonwhite, up slightly from 14% in 2020. In 2016, only 4% went to nonwhite attorneys.
11 minute read
March 25, 2022 | News

'An Implicit Bias in the Tone': Law Deans and Professors Weigh In on Jackson's Nomination Hearing

"In many instances, the questions were irrelevant, vicious and intended to provoke her into giving an in-kind response that would be viewed as a self-fulfilling prophecy," Patricia A. Broussard, professor of law at Florida A&M University College of Law, said in an email to Law.com on Friday.
7 minute read
March 22, 2022 | Commentary

When It Comes to Legal Industry Hiring, Can Howard Now Compete With Harvard? Yes.

While there will always be firms that consider themselves elite because they only hire from Harvard or Yale, there is a growing number of students, clients and private practice attorneys who do not consider such firms elite but rather elitist.
8 minute read
March 21, 2022 | Analysis

'We Look for the Person With Heart': How Small Legal Teams Snag Diverse Candidates

"One has to really get beyond the resume to get to know the person, understand their goals and objectives out of life and the practice of law," said Stephen Kim, chief legal officer of Avicanna.
5 minute read
March 14, 2022 | Analysis

'Overmentored and Underfunded': Diverse Entrepreneurs Dish on Legal Tech Startup Experience

Legalweek panelists on diversity say legal tech sits at an unfortunate intersection: law and tech—two fields dominated by white, male entrepreneurs. The change will have to begin with investors seeking to fund different demographics.
4 minute read
March 15, 2022 | Podcast

Legal Speak at Legalweek 2022, Part I: Interviews With the Experts, From AI to DEI

Last week, Legal Speak was live on location at Legalweek 2022 in New York City, where we interviewed professionals from across the legal industry about their work and how they're helping to shape the future of the profession.
2 minute read
February 28, 2022 | News

New Group to Promote Attorneys of Color in Mass Torts

Prominent plaintiffs attorneys Ben Crump and Diandra "Fu" Debrosse Zimmermann announced on Monday a new organization called Shades of Mass.
3 minute read
February 28, 2022 | News

Following More Public Comment, ABA Revises Diversity and Inclusion Proposal a Third Time

The ABA said multiple comments expressed concern that the proposal creates a two-tiered DEI system that gives priority to racial and ethnic diversity at the expense of LGBTQ+ and disability diversity.
5 minute read
February 16, 2022 | News

A 'Must-Have' or 'Forced Wokeness'?: Mixed Reaction to ABA's Newly Adopted Diversity Training Mandate for Law Students

The American Bar Association House of Delegates this week adopted several changes to the ABA's accreditation standards, including adding a controversial requirement that law schools provide "education on bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism" to students.
7 minute read
February 10, 2022

As Rooney Rule Faces Scrutiny, How Will Law Firms' Mansfield Rule Fare?

The industry has seen some progress in representation since the Mansfield Rule was created. Still, room for improvement remains.
6 minute read
February 03, 2022 | Analysis

Asking Diverse Employees to Assimilate Won't Make Them Feel They Belong, Panelists Say

"We have to begin to step away from these preconceived notions of what the appropriate standard is, and be open and willing to invite new thinking, innovative approaches," said Tammy Bennett, a Dinsmore and Shohl partner.
4 minute read
February 11, 2022 | News

Suffolk Law Adds Free 'Prelaw Pipeline' Summer Program for Diverse Students

"We're very interested in doing our part to increase diversity in the legal profession since so many lawyers don't reflect the population they serve," Suffolk Law Dean Andrew Perlman told Law.com.
5 minute read
February 07, 2022 | News

UVA Law Launches 'First-of-Its-Kind' Comprehensive Pipeline Program

Dean and Arnold H. Leon Professor of Law Risa Goluboff told Law.com that what makes the Roadmap Scholars Initiative unique is its "comprehensiveness." "It's called a roadmap on purpose because we're helping students create a full roadmap" toward a career in law, she said.
5 minute read
January 26, 2022 | News

Southern University Law Center to Hold 'Bootcamp' for Black Law Students Interested in Becoming Sports Agents

"As a Black woman who works in sports and entertainment, I saw the lack of Black lawyers, and I saw nothing being done to address the discrepancies," said Jaia Thomas, founder and CEO of Diverse Representation, the organization partnering with Southern University Law Center on the boot camp.
4 minute read
January 25, 2022 | News

Attorneys of Color See Record Jump in Associate Representation

While the results from the National Association of Law Placement report are promising, much work remains to be done in order to retain these diverse classes through to partnership.
4 minute read
January 25, 2022 | News

'We Are Recruiting the Next Leaders': How BU Law Strives to Increase Diversity in the Broader Legal Community

"It's gratifying to look back and see the changes in my own community," said Boston University School of Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig. "And, as I know it does for others, it inspires me to continue with this really difficult and often thankless work."
5 minute read
January 25, 2022

Law.com Trendspotter: Recruiting Before Law School Could Lead to a More Diverse—and Happier—Legal Profession

Law school applications are still sky high, but the legal industry seems to be growing less content with simply sitting back and waiting for future generations to find it.
7 minute read
January 21, 2022 | News

'We Can Move the Needle More if We Work Together': Firms, Businesses, Bar Groups and Law Schools Band Together in New DEI Effort

"We need to start reaching students in grade school," said Shawntal Mallory, executive director of the new Nebraska Legal Diversity Council. "Like when we were all asked, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'"
5 minute read
January 19, 2022 | News

A Year and a Half In, AALS Law Dean Antiracist Clearinghouse Project 'Going Strong'

"The response to the AALS Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project has been tremendous," said Boston University School of Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig, who co-founded the project. "We regularly hear from decanal and professor colleagues in law that they are using the Clearinghouse as a reference to aid their efforts in creating change at their own schools and in society as a whole."
3 minute read
January 11, 2022 | News

Nixon Peabody Elevates Chief Diversity Officer Role as It Looks to Expand DEI Programming

The elevation of Rekha Chiruvolu comes months after the firm hired away Covington & Burling pro bono manager Sharmaine Heng to lead its "impact lawyering" initiative.
3 minute read
January 07, 2022 | News

Legal Chiefs Get More Involved in HR, Including DEI, but Struggle to Make Progress

Only 10% of GCs report any kind of yearly diversity-and-inclusion progress, the FTI Consulting and Relativity study found.
2 minute read
January 07, 2022 | News

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and 'Belonging': How Law Schools Can Improve Diverse Hiring and Retention

"We encourage folks to 'clean your house first before inviting people over,'" said Amber Hikes, chief equity and inclusion officer at the ACLU, during a panel discussion this week presented by the Association of American Law Schools.
4 minute read
December 29, 2021 | News

At Sidley, Firm Seeking Diversity Through More Paths

Sidley, which just boosted its diversity of office leaders, now has several approaches in its talent goals.
5 minute read
December 15, 2021

Rushing to Meet Client Demands, Law Firms Risk Alienating Diverse Lawyers

"The emotional stress of being the only one, due to lack of community, is real," one industry consultant said.
5 minute read
December 15, 2021 | News

Diversity Lab Names 20 'Inclusion Champion' Firms, and Their Best Practices

Some best practices include providing written compensation criteria and tying partner and practice leader compensation to DEI.
3 minute read
December 03, 2021 | News

Hawaii Law Dean's 'Leadership Lab' Aims to Debunk the Myth That Diverse Future Leaders Are Hard to Find

"People like to complain about the dearth of viable, prepared candidates," said Camille Nelson, dean of the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law. "They say they can't find great applicants, which I don't believe, but if that's the case, what are they doing about it? Everyone starts from a place of scarcity to justify the absence of women, people of color, queer, not 100% able-bodied."
4 minute read
December 02, 2021

ABA Council Revises Diversity Proposal for the Second Time This Year, Once Again Seeking Public Comment

The Council of the American Bar Association's Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has, for the second time this year, released a revised version of a proposal aimed at bolstering its existing diversity and inclusion standard.
4 minute read
November 30, 2021 | Analysis

Law Firms, In-House Counsel Ramp Up Mentorship for Diverse Law Students

Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton and Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell are providing mentorship and career opportunities to diverse law students at FAMU, FIU, the University of Miami, and elsewhere.
5 minute read
November 19, 2021 | News

How This Diversity-Minded Talent Startup Took a Hit, Then Thrived Amid COVID

When the pandemic hit, firms backed away from discussions about hiring early-career lawyers on a contract basis from Legal Innovators. But the pipeline is now flowing.
9 minute read
November 19, 2021 | Q&A

Co-Founder of Time Tracking App Billseye: Legal Tech Startups Should Vet Investors Who Prioritize DEI

A year after many companies said they would focus and support diversity, lawyer and Billseye co-founder Alcide Honoré says the door for opportunities is widening for Black-owned companies. However, some still aren't serious about their DEI efforts.
5 minute read
November 16, 2021 | Analysis

Black Lawyers in the UK Say Their Firms Are Using Them to Mislead Clients on Diversity

A Law.com International investigation has uncovered how tokenism is rife across the UK's legal industry with a host of Black and minority lawyers describing how their names and images were used on client pitches and promotional materials they had nothing to do with.
12 minute read
November 16, 2021 | News

Diverse Group of Law Deans, Faculty Teams Up With ETS to Improve Legal Education 'Life Cycle'

Educational Testing Service has established a new Legal Education Advisory Council aimed at enhancing fair and equitable pathways to law school and beyond.
4 minute read
October 27, 2021 | News

Another Am Law 100 Firm Launches DEI Credit for Billable Hours

"We believe that providing superior client service depends on our ability to draw on the insights and experience of attorneys from diverse backgrounds," a Fox Rothschild firm leader said Wednesday.
2 minute read
October 25, 2021 | Commentary

For Lawyers, Being 'Colorblind' on Issues of Race Is a Troubling Blind Spot

In the first column in a series exploring what it means to be a Fully Human Lawyer, Lauren Krasnow writes about how ignoring our differences requires not wholly seeing one another.
6 minute read
October 25, 2021 | Commentary

Improving Law Firm DEI: How General Counsel Should Evaluate and Coach Their Vendors

Corporations are stepping up the pressure on outside counsel to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion.
6 minute read
October 18, 2021 | News

Am Law 200 Firms Are Increasingly Adding Diversity Credit to Billable Hours Policies

K&L Gates is the latest in a recent run of firms seeking to incentivize work to promote diversity and inclusion.
3 minute read
October 18, 2021 | Conversation

2021 Diversity Roundtable Discussion

The editorial staff of The Legal Intelligencer recognizes diversity as a continuing concern in the legal community. This is our biannual discussion, an attempt to propose concrete solutions for the issues the legal profession faces in recruiting, hiring and retaining diverse attorneys.
55 minute read
October 15, 2021 | Commentary

Law Firms Must Rethink What It Means to Invest in Diverse Talent

Former Crowell & Moring chair Kent A. Gardiner on how firms can better overcome barriers with the help of their senior leaders.
8 minute read
October 06, 2021 | Analysis

Ahead of the Curve: Why Diversity-Focused Law Firms Are Recruiting Before Law School

This week, we look at how and why diversity-focused law firms are beginning to recruit the next generation of attorneys before law school.
7 minute read
September 29, 2021 | News

Top Leaders and Diverse Lawyers Carry the DEI Burden. This Program Looks to Spread the Work Around

"What makes or breaks an associate or partner's career is what happens at the practice group level," said Caren Ulrich Stacey, CEO of Diversity Lab.
4 minute read
September 28, 2021 | Commentary

How Gamification Leads to Meaningful Workplace DEI Changes

Because gamification is frequently misunderstood, people often diminish it in conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion. An examination of gamification as a whole, however, shows how it lends itself to addressing serious issues.
7 minute read
September 24, 2021 | Analysis

Atlanta Law Firms Are Emerging as Diversity Leaders in the Southeast

"Any increase in focus on candidate pools for various leadership positions also brings focus to the process for achieving those leadership positions," Angela Payne James of Alston & Bird said.
5 minute read
September 22, 2021 | News

Lathrop GPM Trains Diversity Lens on Franchise Industry

The firm has a thriving franchise practice, and it's launching a speaker series to encourage greater diversity in the ranks.
3 minute read
September 16, 2021 | News

New York State Bar Association Launches New Task Force on Racism, Social Equity

NYSBA president T. Andrew Brown said the new task force will examine the regulations, laws and structures "that are collectively holding us back as a society from achieving true equality."
3 minute read
September 13, 2021 | News

For the First Time, All of Mansfield Program's Law Firms Achieve Certification

Before the launch of this round, many in Diversity Lab were worried that the pandemic would discourage participation.
2 minute read
August 27, 2021 | Commentary

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diverse Attorneys

As firms and companies focus on weathering an ongoing pandemic, diversity efforts should not be set aside as a problem for another day.
6 minute read
August 30, 2021 | Commentary

Predicting the Future by Creating It: DEI in the Law in the 'New Normal'

Against this backdrop, folks focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession are also worried about the impact on DEI efforts in the profession.
8 minute read
August 30, 2021 | Q&A

MCCA Chair, Discover GC Talks 'Difficult Conversations' and 'Not Being Stuck'

"Time will certainly tell what kind of impact the ongoing pandemic will have on diversity in our industry," Wanji Walcott says.
6 minute read
August 25, 2021 | Analysis

Can Big Law Fix Its Failures on Work Allocation?

While there is no silver bullet for solving Big Law's many ills, decisions about who works on what are tied to many of them.
7 minute read
August 17, 2021 | Video

Who's Got Your Back? How Mentorship Can Promote Real Inclusion and Retention

"When I think of mentorship, I really think that I want to lighten the load of people who are coming behind me, and not make them have to … relearn the things that I've already learned, and really show young people how to navigate and be successful in the legal field," said Kasowitz Benson Torres partner Nefertiti J. Alexander.
5 minute read
August 19, 2021 | News

A Diversity Boon? Attorneys in This Wilmer Hale Practice Don't Have to Choose Between Passion and Profit

Working in Wilmer Hale's anti-discrimination practice group "makes me feel less like it's something that I can just do to pay my loans and move on," one associate said.
5 minute read
August 17, 2021 | Diversity in the Raw

Jonathan Greenblatt Has a Message for White Lawyers With This Hangup: 'You'll Get Over It'

"You need to find a way to do it," he said.
4 minute read
August 10, 2021 | Analysis

Diversity Dipped Among Fortune 1000 GCs in 2020

When looking solely at the gender composition in the Fortune 1000, the numbers are increasing at a more rapid pace, according to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's 2020 General Counsel Survey.
4 minute read
August 10, 2021 | Analysis

Diversity Among Those Involved in the Hiring Process Can Drive Change, says Austin Headhunter

When looking solely at the gender composition in the Fortune 1000, the numbers are increasing at a more rapid pace, according to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's 2020 General Counsel Survey.
4 minute read
August 04, 2021 | News

National Bar Association Names New GC as Organization Takes on Voting Rights Issues

The new general counsel, Sean Pittman, noted COVID-19, health care and wealth disparities, police brutality and voter suppression as issues that underline the importance of the National Bar Association.
2 minute read
August 04, 2021 | News

How Big Law Firms Are Using AI to Cut Down on Hiring Biases

Big Law firms such as Shearman & Sterling and Willkie Farr & Gallagher are increasingly bringing in AI companies into their recruiting process.
5 minute read
August 09, 2021 | News

In Photos: Atlanta Legal All-Stars Leah Ward Sears, Bradley Gayton Help Create Diverse National ADR Firm

The founder and CEO is Marcie Dickson. And ex-American Bar Association President Linda Klein is among Alterity Resolution Services' 15 founding members.
4 minute read
August 02, 2021 | News

The Black Attorney Population Has Not Grown Since 2011

The stagnation in Black attorney head count growth comes as overall minority numbers have inched up and as the legal industry has put a considerable focus on improving diversity in the profession.
2 minute read
July 27, 2021 | News

New Mansfield Program Targets Law Firm Work Assignments and Their Inherent Biases

Traditional methods of assigning work to lawyers "can lead to this initial inequality that just gets more entrenched and more severe over time," Diversity Lab's Lisa Kirby said.
4 minute read
July 28, 2021

Talking Trendspotter: Readers (Including BASF's In-House Counsel) Say Remote Work Flexibility Is a DEI Issue

In a recent message to the company's outside counsel, BASF General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer Matt Lepore said remote work flexibility "has become an important D&I topic," adding that the pandemic created "an inflection point for us to embrace a new way of working that fosters, not hinders, diversity and inclusion."
7 minute read
July 26, 2021 | Analysis

Missed Targets: How the UK's Top Law Firms Fail to Hit Their Diversity Goals

Many of the UK's largest law firms have quietly fallen short of their own stated diversity targets according to an in-depth analysis.
8 minute read
July 12, 2021 | News

'We Need to Lose Our Addiction to Yale and Harvard': Judge Urges Congress to Diversify Federal Courts

The House Judiciary Committee is exploring ways to diversify federal courts through the judicial selection process.
4 minute read
July 09, 2021

Volkswagen UK Legal Team Launches Fully Paid Internship Aimed at Improving Diversity

The internship will not require participants to wear formal outfits or have their own laptops.
3 minute read
July 01, 2021 | News

Law Students Learn Corporate Legal Department Perspective Through ACC Internship

"It helps you see the legal questions from both sides and be able to provide clients with practical legal advice," said Laura Bautista, of the Association of Corporate Counsel Greater Philadelphia.
3 minute read
July 01, 2021 | News

ABA Gets an Earful Over Proposed Diversity Training Mandate for Law Students

The American Bar Association is scheduled to consider a slate of changes to its diversity and inclusions standards in August.
7 minute read
August 27, 2021

Three Black Attorneys Under Consideration for U.S. Attorney Posts in NY as Group Backs 'Diverse Cohort' for Top Prosecutor Jobs

"Appointing Black United States Attorneys at this critical juncture in the history of the department will signal a sincere commitment to diversity and inclusion," reads the letter from the DOJ Association of Black Attorneys.
4 minute read
June 29, 2021 | News

The Latest Mansfield Certification Round Is Shining Light on Law Firm Staff Diversity

"Including staff was something the firms really wanted. Senior level staff play an increasingly important role in running firms," Kirby says.
3 minute read
June 24, 2021 | News

Racial Disparities on the Bar Exam Have Persisted for Decades. Does the Legal Profession Care?

Recent data from the American Bar Association has cast new attention on longstanding racial gaps in bar passage rates. Experts say the problem can be addressed if regulators are willing to adopt new approaches.
7 minute read
June 23, 2021 | News

Many General Counsel Still Aren't Tracking Diversity, Survey Says

"Especially given the client space and conversations we're having, I would think the vast majority of companies and law departments have a plan to increase diversity," Major Lindsey & Africa's Greg Richter said.
3 minute read
June 22, 2021 | Commentary

Mentoring Is a Two-Way Street

Becoming mentors and sponsors is part of promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in legal.
5 minute read
June 17, 2021 | Analysis

Corporate Legal Departments Seek Increasingly Rigorous D&I Goals, Expectations for Outside Counsel

What do corporate legal departments expect of their outside counsel when it comes to diversity and inclusion efforts? The answer to that isn't one-size-fits-all, but in short: a lot more than they used to.
5 minute read
June 17, 2021 | News

Will Salary Wars Impact the Legal Industry's Diversity Efforts?

"I don't think money is going to be the answer to retaining diverse lawyers," Major, Lindsey & Africa recruiter Merle Vaughn said.
5 minute read
June 08, 2021 | News

Attorneys of Color Reveal Alarmingly Higher Instances of Mental Health Struggles

Roughly 31% of Black lawyers said they have contemplated suicide during their professional career, far and above the 19% of white respondents that said the same.
5 minute read
June 04, 2021 | Commentary

So You've Hired a Diversity Officer. Now What Do You Do?

The work to increase diversity and effectuate real change has begun but because it will be hard and long-term, even generational, firms should use all the tools available to them to make it happen.
6 minute read
May 26, 2021 | News

Several Big Law Firms Are Making Juneteenth a Permanent Holiday

Firms are encouraging lawyers and staff to volunteer or do pro bono work in honor of the day.
3 minute read
May 28, 2021 | Event

DEI Twitter Chat Illuminates a 'Movement for Change' That Has 'Only Just Begun'

The panel that convened on the anniversary of George Floyd's murder agreed that the DEI needle still has a lot of moving to do.
4 minute read
May 28, 2021 | Profile

Meet the Federal Judge Who is Championing Diversity in the Zantac MDL

"There are inventive things judges can do in cases, like the ability to use a traditional notion of appointing leadership in an MDL, but thinking more creatively and broadly of who can be a member of that leadership," said U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg.
8 minute read
May 27, 2021 | News

Diversity Pros Fight Unconscious Bias, Lack of Accountability and the Billable Hour

"I think there is a lot of desire to do this work and address racial inequity, but not as much willingness to actually take action to make change," one diversity professional said.
5 minute read
May 25, 2021 | News

Despite All That Happened Last Year, Many Law Firms Still Have No Black Partners

Sixteen law firms on the 2021 Diversity Scorecard, nine of which are in the Am Law 200, do not have any Black attorneys in their partnerships.
7 minute read
May 25, 2021 | News

George Floyd's Death Ushered in a New Era of Law Firm Activism and There's No Going Back

The death of George Floyd caused law firm leaders to speak out about racial justice. And they've continued to do so on other issues such as election interference and voting rights.
7 minute read
May 24, 2021 | Analysis

The 2021 Diversity Scorecard: The Legal Industry's Slow March Continued Amid Racial Justice Protests

As a wave of attention on racial and social justice issues spread through the country and the world, law firms managed to make progress on diversity despite the pandemic.
11 minute read
May 25, 2021 | News

Diversity Lab's New Program Helps GCs Track Law Firm Diversity and Pledge to Reward Progress

"It really is the first large-scale program with economic consequences," Leila Hock, Diversity Lab's director of legal department partnerships and inclusion initiatives, said.
6 minute read
May 20, 2021 | Q&A

'A Mindset Shift': City Bar's New Diversity Leader Views Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

"One of the challenges that I'm anticipating but also looking forward to is being involved with culture change," said Lewis.
12 minute read
May 17, 2021 | News

Full-Ride Law School Scholarships in Hand, These 10 Black Students Represent the Future of Civil Rights Law

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund has named the inaugural recipients of the Marshall-Motley Scholars Program, a $40 million initiative to foster the next generation of Black civil rights attorneys.
5 minute read
May 13, 2021 | News

'It's the Moment for This': An Unprecedented Number of Black Women Are Leading Law Schools

By the fall, 14% of law schools will have Black women in the dean's suite.
8 minute read
May 17, 2021 | News

ABA Pushes Forward With Racism Training Requirement for Law Schools

A requirement that law schools train students in "bias, racism and cross-cultural competency" is among a slate of changes to the law school accreditation standards that the American Bar Association is weighing.
4 minute read
May 04, 2021 | Analysis

Not Reaching Diversity Goals? Leaning on Typical Recruiting Practices Could Be the Problem

"The problem with diversity in recruiting is that not enough recruiters are actually making an effort to promote diverse candidates," recruiter Merle Vaughn said.
7 minute read
May 05, 2021 | News

ABA Mulls Racism, Bias Training Accreditation Requirement for Law Schools

The arm of the ABA that oversees law schools is set to consider a slate of changes intended to foster diversity, student well-being, and professional development.
8 minute read
April 27, 2021

Diversity Policies 'Becoming as Important as' Starting Salaries in UK Legal Recruitment

A stream of changes have been announced by law firms one after another, mirroring the well-known NQ pay war.
5 minute read
April 23, 2021 | Q&A

'This Is an Inflection Point': Justice Martin Jenkins on Pandemic, Clerk Hiring and More

"I'm not a self-professed leader," Jenkins said. "But people don't always understand that the paucity of African American judges puts you in a very unique position. So I'm not unaccustomed to being called upon by members of my community, being looked to for inspiration. That's been almost all of my career."
8 minute read
April 26, 2021 | News

Women and Minority Lawyers Worry 'The Pandemic Will Define Their Career'

An ABA survey has found that women and minority attorneys have disproportionately suffered in the pandemic.
5 minute read
April 09, 2021 | Commentary

How to Even the Playing Field—Diversity, Inclusion and Retention in Law Firms

Emphasizing diversity and inclusion promotes the consideration of candidates based on their potential benefit to the firm, rather than the natural trend of choosing individuals most like those already working at the firm.
8 minute read
April 08, 2021 | Q&A

How Ropes & Gray's Expectation of Diversity Helped Win Over 2 Health Care Attorneys

Torrey McClary and Ranee Adipat, who joined Ropes & Gray from King & Spalding share why it's still meaningful to have female leadership in 2021 and how COVID-19 could affect health care transactions.
9 minute read
March 31, 2021 | Event

'Shouldn't You Have an Accent?': Some Asians Face Racism Among Legal Professionals

The Association of Corporate Counsel Foundation "Courageous Conversations #StopAsianHate" webinar shined a light on some of the different stereotypes that Asian American legal professionals encounter in the workplace.
4 minute read
April 02, 2021 | Analysis

Pa. Beat Coca-Cola's Diversity Efforts to the Punch. Here's How the State's Legal Landscape Has Shifted

"It's not rocket science. You have to look forward to the next generation," Denise Smyler, the former GC of Pennsylvania, said.
11 minute read
April 02, 2021 | Commentary

Standing With Our AAPI Communities and Recognizing America's Long History of Anti-Asian Racism

It was the tragic events of March 16 in the Greater Atlanta area—where eight people were shot and killed, six of whom were women of Asian descent—that have at last focused the national spotlight on the increasing reports of violence against members of the AAPI community.
7 minute read
April 01, 2021 | News

'This Is Where Our Compass Points Us': Reed Smith Partners Outline Plan to Make a Difference in Racial Equity

Reed Smith global managing partner Alexander "Sandy" Thomas and litigation and dispute resolution department global chair Peter Ellis said the events of 2020 led them to create a Racial Equity Action Plan to help the firm, its communities and clients heal and make a lasting impact.
7 minute read
March 30, 2021 | News

'One Helluva Legacy': Liberals Cheer Biden's First Judicial Nominees, But Say Work Remains

"This list powerfully affirms that nominees who are racially diverse and whose professional background reflects a broad range of practice are available to serve on the federal bench," said Sherrilyn Ifill, the president and director-counsel of the NAACP LDF.
8 minute read
March 30, 2021 | News

Revealing First Judicial Nominees, Biden Picks Three Black Women for Appeals Courts

Biden's first slate of judges include a number of historic picks, including a nominee to be the first Muslim American judge appointed in the U.S.
6 minute read
March 30, 2021 | News

Public Defenders, Big Law Partners and Historic Picks: Meet Biden's First Judicial Nominees

Out of the 11 nominees—the most unveiled by a president by this point of his term in recent history—nine are women, and four have backgrounds as public defenders. A number of others have Big Law experience, including two nominees who are currently working at large firms.
8 minute read
March 25, 2021 | News

'A Time for Boldness': Judges, Sharing Their Own Experiences, Call for a More Diverse Judiciary

"I feel there's a cost when voices are missing from the room," one judge testified. "That cost is not theoretical. It is real. Diversity makes for a better judiciary, and that in turn helps fulfill our promise of justice for all."
6 minute read
March 24, 2021 | Analysis

Despite Calls for Diversity, Black Lawyer Marketplace Founder Still Sees Challenges Securing Clients

In a Q&A, Justis Connection founder and CEO Kisha Brown discusses growing her Black lawyer network, the challenges of creating relationships with corporate legal departments and how most legal marketplaces miss the mark on diversity.
5 minute read
March 24, 2021 | News

'A More Diverse Conversation': Why It Matters That More Law Journals Are Electing Black Editors

A record number of first-ever Black editors-in-chief of flagship law reviews will likely prompt more diverse law students to seek leadership roles and will help expand the authors and topics that get published.
7 minute read
March 19, 2021 | News

Law Firms Denounce Rise in Violence, Harassment Toward Asian Americans

"That we are now grieving lives lost was too easy to predict," Akin Gump chairwoman Kim Koopersmith said.
7 minute read
March 23, 2021 | News

'Sprayed Me With Lysol': Asian American Lawyers Battle Racism Linked to Coronavirus

"Only a movement creates change. Moments do nothing," attorney Dan Brody said. "It's on us to use these moments to create a movement."
5 minute read
March 03, 2021 | News

MDL Judge Taps 'Most Diverse Leadership Team Ever' in Data Breach Class Action

U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs instructed lawyers to consider a diverse team to lead about 20 lawsuits against Blackbaud. Five weeks later, she followed through.
4 minute read
March 18, 2021 | News

Record Number of Black Students Take the Reins at Flagship Law Journals

The number of Black editors-in-chief at flagship law reviews was fairly stagnant until 2013. This year, eight top law reviews have elected their first-ever Black editor.
6 minute read
March 23, 2021 | Q&A

Facing the Horror: How Asian American GC Helps Her Team Discuss Atlanta Shootings

"How many in the community, myself included, have had to have difficult conversations with our parents, about their safety and strategies, to make sure they're as safe as possible?" said Lynn Whitcher, GC at San Diego-based tech and telecom firm MD7.
8 minute read
February 25, 2021 | News

'Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is': Big Law's Pitching In on the Ahmaud Arbery Lawsuit. Here's Why That Needs to Happen More.

"It's not about going to top law schools and only recruiting attorneys of color, but using your resources as global law firms, and partnering with practitioners like Lee, and providing your ... services, and frankly, your army of lawyers to actually work hard to effectuate change," said Reed Smith partner Rizwan Qureshi on why his firm joined forces with civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt.
4 minute read
February 16, 2021 | Commentary

Black History Month: A Time for Celebration, Reflection and Looking Ahead

In order to truly rebuild in a way that history will not again repeat itself, we need to respond appropriately to the many tragic lessons we learned in 2020.
7 minute read
February 15, 2021

Law.com Trendspotter: Big Law Doesn't Have a Pipeline Problem. It Has an Elitism Problem.

It's become painfully clear that the lack of diversity at large law firms is self-inflicted—the product of an antiquated and homogenized notion of who qualifies as "Big Law material." The question now is: can large law firms permanently change this mindset?
9 minute read
February 17, 2021

Are Law Firms Failing at Diversity?

While diversity is something that all industries should be striving to achieve to ensure equality in the workforce, this is especially important in the legal industry.
6 minute read
February 18, 2021 | Analysis

In-House Is Tracking Vendor Diversity—But Goals May Still Be Undefined

Legal departments are attempting to hold outside providers accountable for improving the diversity and inclusion on display within their ranks. However, many in-house teams may still be in the early stages of harvesting the data necessary to effectively track those efforts while also attempting to seek out new, minority-owned providers to engage.
4 minute read
February 11, 2021 | Editor's Letter

Diversity Data Is More Than Just Numbers on a Spreadsheet

Amidst this new rush to measure diversity, it's also worth asking the question: What data should the legal industry actually be measuring?
7 minute read
February 09, 2021 | News

Judge Sheds Light on Why Some Black Associates Are Leaving Big Law

"I think it's time that we call up our allies and we ask them to lead the fight, not necessarily follow," Miami-Dade Circuit Judge William Thomas said.
7 minute read
February 02, 2021 | News

So Slow It's 'Painful': NALP Finds Incremental Law Firm Diversity Improvements

For women associates of color especially, the needle is moving so slow that "just doesn't bode well for partner numbers down the road," NALP executive director James Leipold said.
4 minute read
January 07, 2021

Big Law is Less Accountable Than Corporate Peers in Diversity

Among law firm clients and in corporate boardrooms, a different set of diversity standards is taking shape.
6 minute read
December 11, 2020 | Podcast

'Business as Usual Doesn't Work': Inside Big Law's Reckoning on Race

Diversity leaders at three Am Law 200 firms open up about their jobs, the industry's biggest challenges and what makes them optimistic.
2 minute read
December 08, 2020 | Commentary

'Too Often Overlooked': Black Women Are Nearly Absent From the Federal Bench—It's Time to Change That

This nation's lack of Black women in the federal judiciary is not due to a lack of talent but, rather, due to a lack of imagination and political will among those in power.
10 minute read
December 11, 2020 | News

Justices Honor Chief Who Had to Sue Them for the Job

"I have a commitment to the fair application of justice, first in my role as chief justice but also to leave a legacy to those who follow in my path," said retiring Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson.
3 minute read
November 24, 2020 | Profile

A Force for Change: Robert Grey Has Always Been a Proponent of Progress

From his earliest days, Robert Grey, a 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, has been a tenacious advocate for equality.
8 minute read
November 19, 2020 | News

How a Federal Judge Pulled Over 3 Times for 'Driving While Black' Tries to Keep His Own Biases in Check

"The reality is that race, unfortunately, in America still matters. I wish it were not an issue, but it is," said U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, speaking as part of a National Judicial College panel.
5 minute read
November 23, 2020 | Analysis

General Counsel Need to Get Comfortable Asking About Origination Credit

Without the client push, origination credits are unlikely to change, and diversity efforts will suffer.
4 minute read
November 13, 2020 | News

Thompson Looks Back at Handling Racism, Fighting Terrorism and Balancing Corporate Crime Priorities

Over 46 years Larry Thompson has been elected King & Spalding's first Black partner, led fights against terrorism and corporate crime for President George W. Bush and served as the top lawyer for PepsiCo.
11 minute read
November 10, 2020 | Video

'White Guilt': Black Attorneys Talk Frankly About Race and Implicit Bias [FULL VIDEO]

"Typically, as minorities, we are tasked with making people feel better about their white guilt, rather than understanding their implicit bias," said Nadine Girault, who is now chief assistant public defender, soon to transition to executive chief public defender of Broward County, Florida.
5 minute read
October 27, 2020 | News

'Enough Is Enough:' As Diversity Efforts Seemingly Stall, Legal Departments Need to Use Buying Power

In-house attorneys at Intel and U.S. Bank, along with the CEO of Diversity Lab, discussed ways to partner with and pressure law firms to reach diversity goals during the Women Influence Power & in Law Conference on Tuesday.
3 minute read
November 06, 2020 | News

5 Months After George Floyd's Death, Connecticut Law Professionals Grapple With Social Justice

The May killing of George Floyd sparked outrage and led to protests throughout the world. Connecticut attorneys also spoke out and formed a policing task force aimed at addressing the concerns of all stakeholders.
4 minute read
October 21, 2020 | News

New Data on Racial Disparities in Lawyer Hiring Is 'Wake-Up Call' for the Profession

New figures on entry-level lawyers hiring from the National Association for Law Placement reveal that slightly more than 62% of 2019's Black law graduates secured jobs that require a J.D., compared with 80% of white law graduates.
4 minute read
October 05, 2020 | Analysis

Law.com Trendspotter: Big Law's Lack of Diversity Is Being Exacerbated by Its Lack of Creativity, Part I

From continually crowding around the same shallow well for new hires to perpetuating ineffective and exclusionary professional development methods, the recently heightened scrutiny of Big Law's diversity efforts has laid bare the fact that too many law firms insist on doing things the way they've always done them—even after it's become abundantly clear those ways don't work.
8 minute read
October 12, 2020 | Analysis

Law.com Trendspotter: Big Law's Lack of Diversity Is Being Exacerbated by Its Lack of Creativity, Part II

One upside to the increased focus on how law firms are getting diversity wrong is the increased flow of ideas regarding how to get it right.
10 minute read
November 02, 2020 | Commentary

As Election Day Looms, Senior Judge Ponders Changing of the Guard and Stirring Up More Good Trouble

My father has helped me to adopt a balanced perspective on the pros and cons of defunding the police, and we together, through listening to each other, were able to reach consensus on what must change in terms of citizen/police encounters and a framework for a properly funded, accountable police presence in American cities, communities and neighborhoods.
7 minute read
October 21, 2020 | Commentary

Reflections on a 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge

Over a 21-day period, participants perform one action to understand how issues of power, privilege, oppression and equity impact society. The action may be a reading, listening to podcasts, watching videos, or observations, as a way to form and deepen community connections.
5 minute read
September 29, 2020 | Video

'For White People': Watch the Video as Black Lawyers Open Up About Microaggressions

"When you talk about microaggressions, it seems so innocent and harmless. But it's the repeated nature of hearing similar comments or expectations or questions that really ultimately impact the receiver of those comments."
5 minute read
August 31, 2020 | Commentary

How Not to Respond to America's Racial Reckoning: Lessons From Yale Law School

Our school has shown us time and time again that they are more than willing to engage in performative activism, offer wide smiles and empty promises, write us eloquent paragraphs with meaningless words, and claim to fight for equality, as long as it is convenient for them.
8 minute read
August 24, 2020

Why They Left: Black Lawyers on Why Big Law Can't Keep Them Around

Big Law is failing Black lawyers. The stories of those who have left can help explain why.
10 minute read
September 04, 2020 | News

Amid Black Lives Matter Movement, a Different Lateral Market for Black Partners

George Floyd's tragic death has pushed firms to confront their shortcomings on racial equality. The under-examined Black partner lateral market could see some changes as a result.
5 minute read
September 18, 2020 | News

These Law Students Helped Breonna Taylor's Family Secure a $12 Million Settlement

Jasmine Caruthers and A.C. Parham, both students at the University of South Carolina Law School, said their pro bono work researching the use of no-knock warrants on behalf of the lawyers representing Breonna Taylor's family was eye-opening.
4 minute read
September 17, 2020 | News

In-House Leaders Join Advisory Council for Ethisphere's Equity and Social Justice Initiative

"Our participation in Ethisphere's Equity and Social Justice Initiative will help us maintain our commitment to being an anti-racist company over the long term," Tony West, Uber's chief legal officer, said in an email to Corporate Counsel.
3 minute read
August 19, 2020 | News

America's CEOs Stated A New Goal. Now Law Firms See Opportunities in Getting Them There

Firms such Wachtell, Paul Weiss, Freshfields and Winston & Strawn are guiding clients toward ESG goals.
9 minute read
September 10, 2020 | News

Big Law, Corporate Counsel Join Lawyers for Racial Justice Initiative

"We're really looking for ways to mobilize as many attorneys as possible in the fight for social justice," said Traci Love, executive director of Lawyers for Good Government Foundation, which created the initiative.
4 minute read
July 02, 2020 | Commentary

The Racism Conversation: What Are We So Afraid Of?

The weight of this issue requires full engagement toward change. Authentic conversations have the power to peel back the layers of hurt and pain in one's life, to clear away the historical harm that has calcified through avoidance and neglect.
5 minute read
August 07, 2020 | News

'Crying Out for Change': Bar President Recalls Police Stop With Rifles Pointed at His Head

The newly installed president of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association recalls being rattled when he was stopped by police and wants to use his experience as a vehicle for change.
3 minute read
August 18, 2020 | News

Promoting Social Justice May Bolster Law Firm Recruiting

"To join a corporate firm, I would want to know that Black and brown attorneys are needed and valued, because they increase the talent pool, not just fill a quota or create an impression of diversity," said James Smith, 23, a second-year law student at Temple University from Northeast Philadelphia.
9 minute read
August 17, 2020 | News

Despite Diversity Efforts, Fewer Than 10% of MDL Leadership Posts Are Going to Attorneys Who Are Not White

Data gathered by Law.com shows very little progress in ethnic diversity of MDL leadership teams: only 5% of appointments, on average, went to lawyers who identified as "nonwhite" in MDLs created from 2016 through 2019.
11 minute read
August 13, 2020 | News

Wilmer Assists Mayors, Police Chiefs in Calling for Police Reforms

The firm's pro bono work for the conference is one of the most prominent examples of a big firm seeking to take a more active role in racial justice issues.
5 minute read
July 02, 2020 | Podcast

'I Hope We All Keep Up the Momentum and Keep the Strength:' Black Women Firm Leaders Speak

Grace Speights of Morgan Lewis and Tara Elliott of Latham & Watkins discuss the current landscape and the conversations they're having about race.
2 minute read
July 03, 2020 | Commentary

Eight Minutes and Forty-Six Seconds: From Sympathy to Empathy

Hallmark does not make a card to assuage this pain. Godiva does not make anything to combat this bitter taste. There are no floral arrangements to hide what we saw. There is no elevator music to mask what we heard.
3 minute read
July 07, 2020 | Q&A

'Small Acts of Courage': Hershey General Counsel Damien Atkins on Driving Diversity

"It is one of those crucible, fulcrum moments that come around every 20 or 30 years."
10 minute read
June 19, 2020 | Podcast

'Pictures in My Head': Black Law Deans Take on Racism in Legal Ed

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, dean of Boston University School of Law, and Danielle Conway, dean of Penn State Dickinson Law, say it's time for meaningful change at law schools.
2 minute read
June 30, 2020 | Q&A

Corporate Attorney Esuga Abaya on Journey From Big Law to Boutique

"I found more fulfillment working with startups and small businesses, and especially leveraging my expertise to help Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs."
10 minute read
June 16, 2020

'Anger Can Be Righteous and Eloquent': Black Law Deans Send Intensely Personal Messages to Their Students

On Thursday, the Association of American Law Schools launched the Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project with the stated goal of establishing commitment to "a sustained Antiracist agenda," beginning with "The Listening Phase": "Before we begin to lead as a group in working to address systemic racism, it is critical to listen to the voices of Black deans, indigenous deans, and other deans personally impacted by police violence."
8 minute read
July 02, 2020 | News

117 Firms Seek Certification in Latest Round of 'Mansfield Rule' Diversity Initiative

Diversity Lab CEO Caren Ulrich Stacy had worried that participation would drop as firms focused their attention on the economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis. But the result was quite the opposite.
5 minute read
June 03, 2020 | Slideshow

Scenes of Unrest: A Close-Up View of the Protests in New York, Baltimore and Atlanta

As protests sparked by the death of George Floyd took place around the country, ALM photographers were on the ground capturing the events as they unfolded across three cities.
1 minute read
June 18, 2020 | Commentary

A Black Father's Letter to His Black Son: 'My Mission Is to Keep You Safe'

Greenberg Traurig litigation partner A. Michael Pratt pens a letter to his son upon his college graduation. Typically a time to celebrate, current events weigh heavy on their minds.
6 minute read
June 23, 2020

Ahead of the Curve: Talking Racism In The Legal Academy

This week's Ahead of the Curve examines the seeming disconnect between Black law students who feel their schools aren't doing enough to end racial injustice, and law deans who say the academy is reckoning with race like never before.
7 minute read
June 22, 2020 | Analysis

'Change Is Needed': Amid Protests, Law Firm Alliances With Prosecutors Draw Scrutiny

After Dorsey & Whitney ended its prosecutorial relationship with the Minneapolis City Attorney's Office, will other firms reconsider their role in the system?
7 minute read
June 15, 2020 | News

Chief Legal Officers, Chief Human Resource Officers Partner to Combat Workplace Racism

"We know of no other instance when two premiere C-suite organizations like ours have formed an alliance," said ACC president and CEO Veta Richardson.
4 minute read
June 18, 2020 | News

'This Is the Civil Rights Movement of My Lifetime': Black Law Students Demand Action

Black law students groups at 17 schools in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey have signed an open letter to their deans asking them to take concrete steps toward racial justice.
7 minute read
June 16, 2020 | Q&A

'I'm a Little Bit Exhausted': Sidley's Lisa Gilford on the Fight Against Police Brutality

Gilford, a partner at Sidley Austin in Los Angeles who works with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said racism cuts across all African Americans. "We're not protected by our status as professionals," she said.
6 minute read
June 05, 2020 | Podcast

'This Has to Be a Seminal Moment': Black Law Firm Leaders on Inequity, Ire and What Comes Next

A. Scott Bolden, D.C. managing partner of Reed Smith, and Ben Wilson, chairman of Beveridge & Diamond, discuss their own experiences with racism, how they practice authentic leadership and their hopes for greater understanding and inclusion in the legal profession and the nation beyond.
2 minute read
June 03, 2020 | News

'It Could Have Been Me': Black Attorneys Reflect on George Floyd's Death and What Comes Next

Black attorneys and legal industry leaders recounted their own experiences with racism and their hopes for the future.
1 minute read
June 08, 2020 | Expert Opinion

Why I Resist Casual Friday and Other Thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion: A Black Partner's Perspective

Butler Snow partner Orlando R. Richmond Sr. explains the three top reasons lawyers of color are minimized and ultimately leave law firms and what steps firms should take to turn the situation around.
16 minute read
June 08, 2020 | Commentary

Call to GCs: What Are You Prepared to Do to Prevent the Endemic Asphyxiation of Black Legal Careers?

Will self-described supporters of diversity and opportunity in the profession finally step-up and engage in meaningful efforts to address the lack of accessibility to meaningful work, business and opportunities for Black and other minority lawyers?
7 minute read
June 10, 2020 | Q&A

'It's a Moral Issue': Plaintiffs Attorney Navan Ward Talks About George Floyd Protests

For Ward, a principal at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles and African American, the issue of racial justice is personal.
5 minute read
June 09, 2020 | Commentary

Don't Talk About It, Be About It: How to Move the Needle on Social Justice

"If we waste this moment, we will certainly be here again, talking past each other, waiting for future generations to cure the ills of our society," CJ Donald says in laying out very specific steps firms can take to improve the trajectory of diverse lawyers and staff.
8 minute read
June 11, 2020 | Commentary

'We Are Tired and Fed Up': Kirkland Associate Speaks Out About Race, Racism and Big Law

Lauren Skerrett says the reaction from Kirkland & Ellis has been positive after she wrote about the choice between keeping silent or getting "blackballed" at big corporate firms.
5 minute read
June 08, 2020

Big Law Opens Wallets to Move the Needle on Racial Justice

Despite a $5 million commitment from Kirkland & Ellis, law firms are no match for corporate America when it comes to pledging dollars. But firms' pro bono capabilities can amplify their impact. 
5 minute read
June 18, 2020 | News

Law Firms Voice Support for Change—and Pledge to Donate and Take Action

In the days after George Floyd's death, some firms have pledged donations to racial justice groups or have committed to take up other actions. We have compiled excerpts of statements here.
61 minute read
June 11, 2020 | Expert Opinion

Ten Ways to Avoid a Repeat of the Diversity Recession

With 10,000-strong of its trainees in the market, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity is hopeful this recession will have less of an impact on minorities than the Great Recession. LCLD president Robert Grey recaps what leaders of member organizations are doing to make sure that's the case.
6 minute read
June 09, 2020 | Commentary

When #BlackLivesMatter Demands Change, It's Looking at Law Firms, Too

The global movement is a call for meaningful, long-term change to the establishment—of which law firms are fully paid up members.
6 minute read
June 02, 2020 | Commentary

Who's Afraid of Amy Cooper? White Female Lawyers

There are much bigger things to worry about than being mistaken for a "Karen."
4 minute read
June 02, 2020 | Expert Opinion

What the Death of George Floyd Should Teach the Legal Industry

As a black CEO and former Big Law M&A lawyer, Bryan Parker offers practical tips on what law firms and the legal industry need to do to facilitate meaningful change.
8 minute read
June 01, 2020 | News

From Big Law to Boutiques, George Floyd's Death Prompts Outrage, Some Action From Law Firm Leaders

Paul Weiss' Brad Karp said he wants to form "a consortium of leading law firms and public interest organizations" across the U.S. to help achieve racial justice and eradicate systemic racism.
5 minute read
June 04, 2020 | News

Black General Counsels Discuss Racism, Importance of Leadership During Crisis

"It can be challenging to bring your whole self to work. It is not easy to pretend it is business as usual," June Baldwin, senior vice president and general counsel of the Public Media Group of Southern California, said. "This is an atrocity that shows America has never lived up to its promise."
4 minute read
June 01, 2020 | News

'Things Are Different Now': General Counsel, Corporations React Publicly to George Floyd's Death

"We didn't think of this necessarily as a political issue," said Minority Corporate Counsel Association chair Stuart Alderoty, general counsel of fintech firm Ripple Labs Inc.
6 minute read
June 09, 2020

'This Has to Stop': US Appeals Court Revives Claims Against Police in Shooting Death

"Although we recognize that our police officers are often asked to make split-second decisions, we expect them to do so with respect for the dignity and worth of black lives," Judge Henry Floyd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit wrote for Tuesday's unanimous panel.
5 minute read
June 04, 2020 | News

'This Is a Moment': Civil Rights Lawyers Confront Pandemic and Police Violence Inequities

"In many respects, the pandemic has helped to just rip the Band-Aid off and make more visible the racial fault lines that exist in America," said Kristen Clarke, president of the National Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
8 minute read
June 05, 2020

'Our Moral Imperative': Washington State Justices Issue Open Letter Confronting Racial Injustice

"Recent events have brought to the forefront of our collective consciousness a painful fact that is, for too many of our citizens, common knowledge: the injustices faced by black Americans are not relics of the past," the justices of the Washington Supreme Court said.
4 minute read
June 09, 2020

In Wake of George Floyd's Death, Chief Judge DiFiore Calls for Review of NY Courts' Response to Institutional Racism Issues

Jeh Johnson, a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, will lead the evaluation, according to DiFiore's statement. Johnson is a former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
2 minute read
June 03, 2020 | News

Dorsey & Whitney Ends Partnership With Minneapolis Prosecutors, Spotlighting Racial Imbalance

As protests sparked by George Floyd's death continue, the firm is ending its 40-year practice of sending associates to help the city prosecute misdemeanors, saying the cases disproportionately affect black communities. Will other law firms follow its lead?
3 minute read
February 14, 2022

Ahead of the Curve: Are There Enough Alternative Admission Programs at Law Schools?

This week, we're looking at racial and socioeconomic disparities in standardized testing and how some law schools are seeking to address the problem.
7 minute read

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Legal Speak is a weekly podcast that makes sense of what’s happening in the legal industry.