The nation’s law firms still value diversity, even if they are investing fewer resources into it, according to a recent survey of diversity professionals conducted by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Inc. and the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals.
Overall, firms have fewer full-time professionals devoted exclusively to diversity than they did in 2010, 39 percent this year compared to 51 percent last year. Also, the number of diversity professionals who have billable requirements increased. Most professionals responding to the survey said they spend less than 25 percent of their time on diversity work.
However, there was a slight increase in the number of firms who have diversity professionals in some capacity. Additionally, 99 percent of respondents have a diversity committee and 80 percent of respondents expected the diversity budget to stay the same or increase this year.
Other survey results include: 95 percent of those surveyed play a role in developing programs to create an inclusive environment and encourage retention of all lawyers; 74 percent of firms have a diversity professional who is female, and 60 percent report their firm’s diversity professional is a woman of color; 77 percent of diversity professionals hold a juris doctor degree; and 74 percent of professional expect to sponsor the same number of diversity events as last year.
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