Will the Law Firm Diversity Push Falter as Protests Fade?
Big Law firms are under the spotlight over whether they will follow through on pledges to improve diversity and inclusion, months after the mass protests over racial justice and equity.
Firms last year offered support for Black Lives Matter and efforts to hire, retain and promote lawyers from diverse backgrounds, launching new initiatives to advance those goals. But some Black lawyers say those steps are only a start and that sustained public pressure is needed to keep that momentum going.
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But creating affinity groups and new platforms is just one step.
Minority lawyers must consistently receive more support and trust from colleagues throughout the firm to improve retention and development, said Morgan F. Mouchette, a partner focusing on family law at Blank Rome LLP in New York.
“What has helped me to stay in this industry and at my firm has been strong relationships with advocates. They consistently look out for me and ensure that I have the things I need to succeed in this corporate environment,” Mouchette said. “Big Law can create all kinds of programming to prompt retention and advancement, but if people don’t feel comfortable and supported, or that the team they work within wants them to succeed, then it’s highly unlikely that they will stay.”
“It is clear the entire industry is not doing that,” she added.
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“Will the Law Firm Diversity Push Falter as Protests Fade?” by Ayanna Alexander was published in Bloomberg Law on February 8, 2021.