Diverse Effects: Law firms are hanging onto their diversity directors. But the fate of minority associates has been mixed.
The May 2010 edition of California Lawyer Magazine includes an article highlighting the effect of the economy on diversity in law firms. The article makes special mention of ALFDP, and includes a graphic showing the trend of the organization’s membership growing each year since its inception in 2006.
To view the complete article, please click on the following link: Diverse Effects
The Mommy Track Turns 21
Slate Magazine discusses the the development and relevance of the “mommy track” in an article published March 10, 2010.
To read the full article, please select the following link: Mommy Track.
Who’s Still Biased?
Diversity training has swept corporate America. Just one problem: It doesn’t seem to work…
Practitioners and some scholars disagree, arguing that, while there have been some unsubstantiated claims and overhyped “innovations” in diversity training, the field as a whole has begun to figure out what works…
To view the complete article published by the Boston Globe on March 7, 2010 examining the effectiveness of diversity training, please select the following link: Who’s Still Biased?
Corporate Counsel Warn Firms Not To Slack On Diversity
Although the recession has taken its toll on diversity at some major U.S. law firms, big-name corporations are stepping up efforts to give more work to women and minorities and say those that fail to make diversity a priority do so at their own peril.
To view the entire article published by Law360 on March 11, 2010, please select the following link: Diversity Efforts
Big corporations set aside $30 million to hire minority- and women-owned law firms
Eleven of the country’s major corporations announced Thursday, March 4, 2010, that they will collectively spend $30 million to hire minority- and women-owned law firms as outside counsel.
To access the complete National Law Journal article, please select the following link: $30 million for diverse fims
Law school rankings complicate diversity efforts, research suggests
The National Law Journal published an article on March 1, 2010 discussing the effects of law school rankings and diversity.
Please select the following link to access the article: Law School Rankings and Diversity
2010 Diversity Scorecard
The American Lawyer recently published its 2010 Diversity Scorecard in the March edition of the American Lawyer Magazine. The study indicates that large U.S. law firms became less diverse in 2009. For the first time in the 9 year history of the Scorecard, the percentage of minority attorneys at all participating firms dipped, from 13.9 to 13.4 percent.
Please select the following link to access the Am Law article on the Diversity Scorecard: Diversity Scorecard
ABA Report: Recession Undermining Diversity Initiatives
Law.com discusses the affect of the economy on diversity efforts in the February 5, 2010 article, “ABA Report: Recession Undermining Diversity Initiatives.” The ABA report, “Diversity in the Legal Profession: The Next Steps,” was the first comprehensive diversity study from the ABA since the legal profession began grappling with the economic collapse, and unfortunately revealed that spending on diversity efforts have slowed and some of the gains have diminished.
To access the article on Law.com, please select the following link: ABA Report: Recession Undermining Diversity Initiatives
Women Attorneys Business Development Study
Harry Keshet published a 2007 study examining the intersection of two important trends in the legal profession: women’s growing participation in the practice of law and lawyers’ increased deliberate efforts to generate and grow business for their firms. The research focuses on how women attorneys go about building their book of business and generating high originations.
To access this study, please select the following link: Women Attorneys Business Development Study
Just Like Everyone
The ABA Journal posted “Just Like Everyone” on February 1, 2010, discussing how inclusion can be a powerful tool for making GLBT and other lawyers feel more comfortable in the workplace. The article also reviews the role of diversity and inclusion in law firms and includes an examination of best practices.
To access the article, please select the following link: Just Like Everyone