The 2021 Biglaw Variety Scorecard

12 months in and yr out, we check out law firm just after legislation agency shell out lip provider to their commitment to variety in the authorized job, with promises to recruit, keep, and endorse extra minority lawyers. Regardless of these continued assurances, and regardless of the truth that a quantity of companies have designed good efforts to enhance the stature of their various hires in the regulation, there is nonetheless substantially far more to be performed, even soon after a calendar year where by the worth of diversity and racial justice took centre phase and was introduced to the awareness of all people across the state, if not the entire world at large. If there is at any time likely to be any genuine adjust in the lawful sector, diversity has to be far more than just a buzzword — it should be a precedence at each law firm.

According to the American Lawyer’s 2021 Range Scorecard — a ranking that tracks the ordinary quantity of full-time-equal minority lawyers (both equally associates and nonpartners) at Am Law 200 and National Legislation Journal 250 regulation corporations — there has been some development more than the past calendar year, but it is been slight:

The whole selection of minority lawyers rose to 18.5{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84}, up from 17.8{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} previous 12 months and 16.9{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} in 2019. The variety of minority partners also climbed, reaching 10.9{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84}, up from 10.3{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} in 2020, and the proportion of minority nonpartners strike 24.6{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84}, up from 23.7{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} in 2020.

Some attribute this ongoing progress to a maturing procedure of range and inclusion at law corporations, though some others have reported the Black Lives Matter motion and the galvanizing consequences of George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing wave of nationwide protests pushed D&I to the forefront at corporations. Each probable played a job in steering clear of the setbacks of the previous disaster [when firms shed 6{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} of all attorneys and 9{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} of minority attorneys between 2008 and 2009].

The agency that took top rated honors this year — Berry Appleman & Leiden — retained its placement as the nation’s most varied agency, but the leading 5 corporations modified when yet again this year. In general, companies surveyed were being in a position to raise their common score on the scorecard by 3.41 points, a 13{dcfa4b42334872b3517041d7075c48816e8f617446b245cec30e8949517ffd84} increase over their 2020 common of 24.71.

Berry Appleman & Leiden was the prime company by score once again in this year’s rating, acquiring taken the top place as a new entrant in 2020. The company had a score of 74.7, up from 72.4 in 2020 and 5.6 details in advance of 2nd-location newcomer Cole, Scott & Kissane (69.1).

The rest of the leading five, in buy, provided immigration firm Fragomen (63.6) and newcomers Kelley Kronenberg (63.4) and Kubicki Draper (62.4). …

White & Scenario, which was knocked down to No. 7 from No. 4 final calendar year by the new entrants although nevertheless raising its total rating from 54.4 to 55.8, was the only business in the prime 10 by revenue to also spot in the top rated 10 in the Diversity Scorecard.

Which legislation corporations are the best for range in 2021? Here are the Top rated 25:

1. Berry Appleman
2. Cole Scott
3. Fragomen
4. Kelley Kronenberg
5. Kubicki Draper
6. Wood Smith
7. White & Scenario
8. Kobre & Kim
9. Irell
10. Morrison & Foerster
11. Cleary Gottlieb
12. Very best
13. Fenwick
14. Procopio Cory
15. Wilson Sonsini
16. Knobbe
16. Munger Tolles
18. Fish
19. Debevoise
19. Kasowitz
19. Paul Hastings
22. Finnegan
22. Orrick
24. Curtis
25. Davis Polk

Look at out the full rankings at the American Lawyer.

Congratulations to all of the Biglaw firms that are accomplishing their portion to transfer the needle on diversity. For all other firms, the force is on to do superior — and fast.

The 2021 Diversity Scorecard: Position the Legal Marketplace [American Lawyer]
The 2021 Variety Scorecard: The Authorized Industry’s Gradual March Ongoing Amid Racial Justice Protests [American Lawyer]

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Earlier mentioned the Law, the place she’s worked due to the fact 2011. She’d enjoy to listen to from you, so remember to truly feel absolutely free to electronic mail her with any recommendations, thoughts, feedback, or critiques. You can observe her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.