Diversity

• Diversity and inclusion is one of the most important and pressing issues in the legal profession.
• Notwithstanding a host of diversity initiatives spearheaded by law firms, corporate clients, professional organizations, and other stakeholders, the legal profession remains one of the least diverse professions in our society.
• BCG Attorney Search wants to help change that.

• There has been a tremendous amount of energy and attention devoted to increasing diversity and inclusion in law firms, and yet women, attorneys of color, LGBTQ attorneys, and other diverse attorneys continue to lag behind.
• Women account for less than a quarter of all law firm partners.
• The percentage of African-American associates has just this year surpassed 2009 levels, and attrition is a major problem, as diverse attorneys are leaving law firms at disproportionate rates because they feel marginalized, undervalued, and without any meaningful future in those institutions.

There are enormous benefits of diversity, and many reasons why law firms should strive to become more diverse and inclusive. These benefits include:

• Offering better legal representation through more creative, textured, and insightful problem-solving;
• Attracting and retaining top talent in a changing world;
• Complying with the demands of corporate clients and thus maximizing profits;
• Promoting better workforce morale;
• Improving public prestige and reputation; and
• Being fair and equitable in accordance with values underlying the legal system that law firms serve.

Learn why diversity in the legal world is so important and how companies and law firms are encouraging diversity through new and upcoming diversity programs. READ MORE >

A recent study showed how even law firm websites have an impact on the retention of diverse attorneys. Learn more in this article. READ MORE >

Learn more about BCG Attorney Search’s commitment to diversity and find some diversity resources about law firm and the legal profession. READ MORE >

The billable hour has long been a staple of law firms, but it also appears to be hindering gender equality at major law firms. Learn more in this article. READ MORE >

Find out which major law firms are leading the way in 2017 in gender equality. READ MORE >

Corporate clients are leading the way when it comes to facilitating change in the diversity and inclusion arena. Using a variety of tools like open letters, financial incentives, and financial penalties, general counsels are leveraging the “power of the purse” to help ensure that the firms they use for outside legal services step up their commitments to diversity. READ MORE >

Does your firm actively seek out minority applicants for attorney positions? If you are waiting for minority lawyers and law students to contact you, you may be waiting a long time. Given the small number of minorities in the practice and in law school, law firms must be proactive when seeking minorities. Take a close look at your firm's hiring practices. READ MORE >

Click here to view a collection of attorney resume and cover letter resources written by experienced legal recruiters.

Question: I’m an openly gay, third year corporate associate currently working in a Top 10 AmLaw firm. I’m looking to lateral to another top firm. How “out” should I be on my resume? READ MORE >

Question:

I am a 10th year practitioner in New York City, and, more recently, I've heard people say that I am ''past my prime.'' What does that mean, exactly? Am I not marketable anymore? READ MORE >

Opportunities for women in law firms today abound and marketing is no different. However, there are several keys to success that are critical to incorporate into your personal game plan. This article will describe the new rules of law firm and lawyer marketing and the keys to your success in capitalizing upon them. READ MORE >

Let me start this article off by talking about myself. I am the oldest of three and was probably the most ''driven'' and ''motivated'' of my siblings. Competitive by nature, I had to get straight A's in high school and college. An ''A-'' could bring me to tears. My drive, my need to succeed is what led me to apply to law school while in college (as a psychology major, I eventually ruled out PhD programs). Once I got into law school and knew where I was headed, I arrogantly declared to my friends I would be making over $100,000 a year before my 25^th birthday. READ MORE >

It seems as though the number of female partners currently working in law firms is becoming fewer and fewer these days. A lot of female partners are fleeing from firms due to a lack of balance in their work and professional lives, and also because of an absence of support or mentoring. In this article, I am going to discuss some of the ways that firms can attract and retain female partners. As many women in this country opt to pursue law as their professional career, those firms on the forefront of female partner retention efforts will benefit greatly by attracting existing female partner talent and those up and coming women attorneys who represent the next generation of female partner candidates. READ MORE >

Due to the economic crisis, I have been spending a lot of time on the phone with outstanding lawyers who have been left in desperate situations. Many of these attorneys, from junior associates to senior partners, come from top law firms and have excellent academic credentials. The tone of the conversation is one of desperation and frustration. Perhaps the most frustrated are the senior and partner-level attorneys who have a wealth of experience to bring to the table, but have not had any success getting a firm to talk to them. These candidates are disgusted because their willingness to be flexible and take a hit in title or class year in order to make a move is rejected. READ MORE >

We've all heard a story like this: a motivated, highly successful (generally female) associate at a top-tier law firm earns a reputation for being the ''go-to'' associate in her department, earns rave reviews for her work, and is on the fast track to partnership. Then she has a baby, takes a maternity leave, and returns to work full-time, convinced she can balance it all. However, shortly thereafter, reality sets in—she realizes that balancing a successful career while raising a child is practically impossible to achieve. READ MORE >

Q. I am a corporate attorney with good credentials. I went to a top local law school, graduated with honors and I work for a respected mid-sized firm. I like my work, but I feel overwhelmed by the demands and how little personal time I have. In short, I would like to reduce my hours. My firm has accommodated lawyers in other practice areas who have requested a part-time schedule, but up until now I have been afraid to broach the subject with the partners at my firm. Part-time seems like an option that has only been granted to working mothers and I am neither a parent nor female. How do I make a case to my firm to allow me to work part-time? Are there any firms that might hire me on a part-time basis. READ MORE >

The struggle to balance career and family is not a new problem, but one that many employers have recently started to address and implement policies about. These changes are no longer an administrative annoyance, but are being recognized as actually adding value to firms and giving them an edge in a competitive environment. Obviously, having two working parents in a household is not uncommon, nor is single-parent support of the family-it is becoming the norm. Individuals need to find time for responsibilities outside of work. Therefore, it is important that firms address their level of commitment to institutionalizing and publicizing support for alternative work schedules. READ MORE >

Historically, law firms have been conservative environments, and as a result, gay attorneys (which includes gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered attorneys) have largely kept their sexual orientations to themselves out of fear of being ostracized, rejected, and discriminated against. Many of us have witnessed or heard of stories in which a very highly regarded attorney's sexual orientation was somehow disclosed (or leaked) to his or her firm, resulting in negative consequences for the attorney. READ MORE >

Managing Director of BCG's New York office Danice Kowalczyk delivers an in-depth exposé on women and corporate success. READ MORE >