Compiled for the LCLD Board of Directors every Wednesday, this digest is designed to brief you on the latest headlines about LCLD Members and organizations, as well as thought-provoking articles on diversity in the legal profession, talent development, mentoring, and leadership. Past issues of the Digest are also archived on the LCLD web site.
If you have questions about the Digest, articles you'd like to share, of if you would like to subscribe, please email Communications Specialist Caitlin Puffenberger at cpuffenberger@lcldnet.com.
1. The Elephant in the Room: Advancing Women to Partnership
Law360, 7/21/17
“Law firms must once and for all directly address the structural and governance barriers that women face in achieving parity with men,” write Scott Westfahl, a past LCLD meeting speaker, and Anusia Gillespie. “Women themselves are not the barriers to equal representation in equity partnership. It is the structure of law firms that is at odds with the way the rest of the world is moving.”
2. New Report Shows Law is One of the Least Diverse Professions for Females
Law360 and The Huffington Post, 7/27/17
LCLD Member firms Littler Mendelson, P.C. and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP were the top two large law firms for percentage of female partners; Carlton Fields, Hanson Bridgett LLP, Ford & Harrison LLP, Fredrikson & Byron, PA were also in the top five of their respective size categories.
3. The American Lawyer A-List
The American Lawyer, 7/27/17
Several LCLD Members were among the top 10 on the American Lawyer A-List, which ranks firms based on financial strength, pro bono commitment, diversity, associate satisfaction, and percentage of women in equity partnership. Five Member firms also ranked in the top 10 for female representation.
4. Transgender Attorney Finds Strong Support from Her Firm
Texas Lawyer, 7/24/17
When D.J. Healey told her firm she was transitioning, LCLD Member organization Fish & Richardson P.C. helped her develop and implement a plan to announce her transition to her colleagues and clients.
5. WATCH: Powerful New Video Tackles Racial Bias to Remind Kids Their ‘Black is Beautiful’
Huffington Post, 7/24/17
LCLD Member corporation The Procter & Gamble Company is encouraging people to talk about racial bias with a video that shows the difficult conversations black parents are having with their children about survival and self esteem.
6. Clients Pushing Hard for Diversity? Not Exactly
The American Lawyer, 7/25/17
There is a disconnect between the discussion of diversity and what’s actually being done about it, according to a recent survey from the Association of Corporate Counsel; for example, 45 percent of respondents said senior executives discussed diversity, yet only 6 percent said their departments use data to track the diversity efforts of their outside counsel.
7. Why the Myth of Meritocracy Hurts Kids of Color
The Atlantic, 7/27/17
“For those marginalized by the system – economically, racially, and ethnically – believing the system is fair puts them in conflict with themselves and can have negative consequences.”
