—   Hispanic Heritage Month   —

October 9, 2024

On the Need for Equity in America

Ageism May Be Holding Younger Women Back from Advancing at Work

DIVERSE REPRESENTATION   “‘Youngism,’ a type of reverse ageism, may be an overlooked contributor to the broken rung, where women, and particularly women of color, are less likely to be promoted to that first rung of manager level.”  Forbes

Only 11 Percent of MDL Appointments Went to Attorneys of Color in 2023

WORK ALLOCATION   The percentage of leadership appointments in multidistrict litigation for attorneys of color remains persistently low, dropping from 13 percent in 2022 to 11 percent in 2023. To reverse this trend, firms need to prioritize and invest in the development of diverse talent.  ALM | Law.com

DEI Support & Strategy

No, Not All Companies Are Abandoning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Here’s Why.

DEI SUPPORT   Companies with lower executive team diversity are 66 percent less likely to outperform competitors financially, according to McKinsey’s latest DEI report. This performance gap has steadily increased over the years, “indicating that lack of diversity may be getting more expensive.”  Legal Dive

More Than 360 Law Firms Gain Mansfield Certification as Firms Remain ‘Quietly Committed’ Amid DEI Challenges

DEI SUPPORT   Over 360 firms earned Mansfield Certification for the 2023–24 period, a 13 percent increase from the previous year’s 320 certified firms. To achieve the certification, firms must demonstrate progress in increasing equity and diversity in their leadership candidate pools.  The American Lawyer

By Looking Elsewhere, Companies Send Big Law a Message

DEI SUPPORT   Research on emerging trends in law firm talent management reveals that a third of corporate clients are taking their business elsewhere when firms don’t meet their diversity, equity, and inclusion expectations.  Legal Dive

LCLD Leads on DEI

Law Firms Mobilize to Respond to Anti-DEI Backlash

DEI SUPPORT   Attorneys from Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, Gibson Dunn, Morgan Lewis, and Clark Hill share how their firms’ DEI advisory groups are helping clients assess their DEI initiatives and mitigate legal risk in the rapidly changing post-SFFA environment.  Litigation Daily

Internal Leadership Revamp Aids Growth of Spencer Fane

DIVERSE LEADERSHIP   As part of its leadership restructuring, Spencer Fane appointed Latricia Shepard as its first Chief Talent and Diversity Officer, with a focus on fostering a “culture of feedback.”  The American Lawyer

How an Inclusive Approach for Business Professionals Benefits Law Firms

INCLUSIVE CULTURE   2013 Fellow Brian Seaman, Chief Diversity Officer at Stradley Ronon, and Ryan Galvin, Chief Talent Officer at Stradley Ronon, highlight how extending DEI initiatives or employee resource groups to business professionals at a firm can bolster inclusion and connection.  The Legal Intelligencer

Leading for Tomorrow

Big Law Invests More in Alumni Networks, Seeing Returns in Business

INCLUSIVE CULTURE   Leaders at firms like Epstein Becker, Debevoise, and Sidley Austin are investing more resources in alumni programs for business development, marking a shift in attitude from previous years. And they’re already seeing a return on investment through stronger client relationships and improved talent recruitment.  The American Lawyer

for LCLD Members & Diversity Professionals

OCTOBER 23  |  Diversity Professionals  |  virtual

2025 Fellows, Pathfinders, & Scholars Informational Webinar

Join us for an Informational Webinar about LCLD’s programs.

During the webinar, we will cover program components, selection for 2025, and answer any questions you may have. The webinar will be recorded for those who cannot attend.

Stay connected with us!