Wilson Sonsini Gets Top Spot on Diversity Scorecard
A diversity survey by the Minority Law Journal has found the increase in minority lawyers at the nation’s top 250 law firms is slowing, and the economy may be a factor.
In 2008, the percentage of minority lawyers at firms responding to the survey was 13.9 percent, up from 13.4 percent the year before, the Minority Law Journal reports. That’s a smaller gain than in each of the previous three years, when the proportion of minority lawyers at all firms increased annually by a full percentage point.
The survey also found that 13.8 percent of newly promoted partners were minorities, up from 13.3 percent in 2007. But the percentage of minority partners hired laterally dropped to 9.6 percent, compared to 11 percent in 2006.
Around 30 law firms said the economic downturn had harmed their diversity efforts. “Financial concerns can hurt diversity initiatives in several ways,” the article explains. “Layoffs and reduced hiring may mean fewer associates of color, and as several firms said in their responses, pressure to increase billable hours can detract from mentoring and recruiting efforts.”
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is ranked first on the diversity scorecard. A change in methodology that puts more emphasis on the percentage of minority partners benefited the firm. Wilson Sonsini had been ranked second the previous two years.
Cleary, Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton suffered under the new ranking system. Last year it was No. 1, but now it is ranked 20th.
The top five firms on the diversity scorecard:
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, based in Palo Alto, Calif.
Townsend and Townsend and Crew, based in San Francisco.
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt and Mosle, based in New York.
Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, based in Los Angeles.
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, Irvine, based in Irvine, Calif.
The survey also published data in two new diversity categories: gay and lesbian lawyers and disabled lawyers. Irell & Manella had the highest percentage of openly gay and lesbian lawyers, at 8.4 percent. Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle had the highest percentage of disabled lawyers, at 2 percent.
