The State of Law Firm Diversity

Since 2020, we have experienced a global pandemic that has had a disproportionate impact on communities of color and exposed disparities in our healthcare system. There has been an increase in violence and toxic rhetoric directed toward members of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Duante Wright, and others propelled the issue of racial justice into the spotlight. Members of teh Latinx Community were targets of a mass shooter in Texas because of their ethnicity. And the United States Supreme Court extended Civil Rights Act protections to members of teh LGBTQ+ Community and seemingly fueled a backlash as "Don't Say Gay" bills and legislation targeting transgender youth were introduced in State Houses around the country.

These issues have created dialogue related to issues of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. But has this dialogue resulted in meaningful change in society as a whole or in one of the least diverse professions—the legal profession?

Republished with permission. The full article, "The State of Law Firm Diversity," was published in DRI's In-House Defense Quarterly, Summer 2022 Edition.