Talent or Token? Lawyers Say Diversity Still Can Be Just for Show

Law.com ^ | March 28, 2019 | Meredith Hobbs

[Cecily]

For more than a decade, big law firms have been publicizing their efforts to increase the proportion of women and lawyers of color in their ranks, from stepped-up recruiting efforts to diversity committees to affinity groups.

Meanwhile, general counsel have issued multiple “calls to action” demanding more diverse lawyers on their pitches and matters—most recently sparked by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison’s December announcement of an all-white class of newly promoted partners.

Even so, in Atlanta as elsewhere, “the increments of change have been really small and really slow,” said Rebecca Smith, executive director of the state bar’s Georgia Diversity Program.

According to statistics from the National Association for Law Placement, minority partners’ representation in Big Law nationally has scarcely increased in the last decade, rising from 6 percent in 2009 to 9.1 percent in 2018.

“Why is that? With all the effort and work people are putting into diversity and inclusion, why are we not seeing the gains we would expect?” Smith asked.

“There’s a lot of diversity for diversity’s sake,” said one African-American woman who works in the Atlanta legal community, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Diversity is the word du jour, and firms need to position themselves to appear diverse and inclusive. It’s something any minority attorney can relate to, whether a rainmaker or someone trying to build a book of business.”

[Cecily]

Oh, really? You think? When AT&T or Wells Fargo or some other huge potential client (which likely has lily-white, mostly male board of directors and top executives), tells you that you need to hit certain diversity numbers before they will give you millions and millions of dollars in legal business, big law firms are sure enough going to get that window dressing and hit those numbers.

[RedMonqey]

“the increments of change"

The excrements of change

[vpintheak]

I am so surprised! You mean filling spots to make some sort of quota, means that you could have unqualified people! Wow!

[YogicCowboy]

Affirmative Action and Title IX are communist redistribution to produce equality of outcome.

[YogicCowboy]

I have not seen a single white-male rank-and-file employee at my local Wells Fargo branch since... well before 2000, I think - a very occasional white female.

Curiously, the local clientele includes many white males standing in line.

[gogeo]

Same with my local US Bank branch.

[Grampa Dave]

Same with my local US Bank branch.

Ditto!

However, they are very helpful and speak English very well.

Interesting they are more Hispanic in appearance and skin color than native Mexican.

[SunkenCiv]

And before we move on, something else from Georgia.