An updated survey and improved online portal from the American Bar Association allows corporations to compare law firms they work with on key metrics of diversity, equity and inclusion.
The ABA Model Diversity Survey, compiled by the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, was released May 16. Based on a survey of 287 law firms with a total of more than 100,000 attorneys, the report measures law firms’ demographics, hiring, promotions, leadership, highest compensated partners, attrition and diversity initiatives.
An easy-to-read online dashboard shows statistics for each law firm and how they compare to each other. The information on individual firms is available only to companies that sign an ABA pledge to support the survey and diversity in the legal profession. The goal is to offer companies the information they need to evaluate law firms that they hire and work with.
To date, more than 180 U.S. companies have signed the Model Diversity Survey pledge, including 7-Eleven, American Express, Bank of America, Cigna, Costco, Dow Chemical, Facebook, General Motors, Hyatt, McDonald’s, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Raytheon, Starbucks, The New York Times, United Airlines, Visa, and Zoom.
Companies that sign the pledge can search an online portal to see which law firms have completed the survey and can see reports on each firm for:
• Demographics
• Hiring by firm role
• Promotions
• Attrition by firm role
• Trend reports for each firm
• Comparisons among law firms
The survey supports one of the four goals of the ABA: eliminating bias and enhancing diversity in the legal profession and the justice system. Lawyers of color are underrepresented in the justice system. Just 5% of U.S. lawyers are Hispanic, 5% Black, 2% Asian and 2% multiracial, according to the 2021 ABA National Lawyer Population Survey.
Read the new Model Diversity Survey report at www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/DiversityCommission/model-diversity-survey.
- Posted May 25, 2022
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
ABA survey lets companies compare law firms on diversity hiring, promotions, attrition
headlines Oakland County
- Historical: Circuit Court judge has made indelible mark
- ABA amicus brief supports noncitizens’ right to a bond hearing when detention becomes ‘unreasonably prolonged’
- Nessel secures full victory in lawsuit challenging administration’s attack on fair housing protections
- Whitmer announces new automotive jobs, investment in Oakland County
- AG pushes federal government to strengthen rules to combat illegal robocalls
headlines National
- Lindsay Clancy trial shows how hard it is to prove intent retroactively
- Is there a religious right to abortion? State supreme court will weigh in
- Harvey raises $550M in latest round of funding
- Vanderbilt law students will gain access to AI-powered deposition simulations
- Federal judges’ interns may accept stipends from law firms, ethics panel says
- Former lawyer who pulled gun on ex-wife in restaurant convicted of attempted murder
