2011 Diversity Benchmarking Report

The 2011 diversity results paint a picture of stagnation for women and minority attorneys. At the microlevel there are improvements to be celebrated, most small, interspersed with signs of slippage. Minority attorneys have reclaimed some ground lost during the recession and women continue to improve their representation at the partner level while simultaneously declining among the associate ranks. While new hires across levels are more diverse than attorneys at signatory firms, elevated turnover for women and minorities continues to erode the gains. We were encouraged to find that firms with a critical mass of women on their management committees – defined as three or more reported better results for women attorneys at every level.