Results of a recent survey on law firm diversity professionals provides an interesting snapshot of the current role of this position and the resources law firms are dedicating to diversity.
The “2009 Law Firm Diversity Professional Survey” was conducted jointly by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) and the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP). This is the second year for the in-depth study, which surveys the nation’s leading law firms to explore in detail the role of diversity professionals, still a relatively new position, and to quantify the resources firms are dedicating to diversity performance. See the complete report here.
Of the 94 firms (ALFDP members and AmLaw 200 firms) that participated in the survey, 80% said they currently have a dedicated diversity professional at the firm. While some have had the position in place for awhile, most firms (67%) have created it in the last three years. Almost half (44%) said their diversity professional is dedicated full time to diversity initiatives.
While responses varied somewhat on the background and responsibilities of the professionals in this developing position, the survey did reveal an interesting profile of today’s law firm diversity professional:
* The majority (77%) are women.
* 75% of law firm diversity professionals hold a J.D. degree.
* 55% were hired from within their firms and 44% were hired from outside the firm.
* Most are relatively new to the position: 78% have held the position for three years or less; 19% have held it less than one year.
* Diversity Director is the most common job title (50% of responses), followed by Diversity Partner (25%).
* Half of respondents noted that their diversity professional is Black/African American, 31% said they are White/Caucasian.
* 8% said the professional in that role is lesbian or gay.
* Although the majority of diversity professionals (58%) had less than five years of compensated diversity experience, a significant number (34%) had more than 10 years non-compensated diversity experience, whether on law firm diversity committees or external boards/associations.
