the stats

2009 unemployment percentage rate of white male college graduates:*

4.4

2009 unemployment percentage rate of African-American male college graduates:*

8.4

readings in diversity

New: Report of the 5th Annual National Survey on Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms
A study by the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) showed that women still comprise only 15% of equity partners in law firms.

New: Decline in law firm diversity blamed on a few 'bad actors'
A Stanford student group called Building a Better Legal Profession compiled data on minorities across the law profession in 2010. They compared attrition rates among law firms. Variation among the firms was significant.

New: Are Premature Work-Life Balance Concerns Sabotaging Women Lawyers' Careers?
An article and video of Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg discussing women and the work-life balance.

New: Study: California Law Firms Lead Country in Diversity - But It's Not Easy
Among other findings, the study examines some of the best practices for promoting diversity at law firms.

New: City Bar Sees Diversity Slip at Local Law Firms
Due in large part to economic conditions, New York City law firms are losing some of the gains they've made in diversity.

A profile of diversity trailblazer Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks
A look at the legacy of the first African-American judge in Tennessee.

Multiple Women Make Partner at Some Firms, While Others Promote All-Male Classes
According to a survey by the Project for Attorney Retention, more than one-third of this year's new partners are female.

American Lawyer has released its Diversity Scorecard 2010. For the first time in ten years, the percentage of minority attorneys has declined. Essentially, the recession has impacted minority lawyers to a greater extent than the overall lawyer population. These changes year-to-year may appear small, but the unfortunate change in direction is significant. LCLD Chair Rick Palmore was quoted in the article, saying, "The challenge is that we cannot look at these statistics and sit still. We're in a dogfight."

The Next Steps for Diversity in the Legal Profession
This ABA report identifies specific recommendations for increasing diversity in the legal field.

'Whitening' the Résumé
Some minority job applicants are altering their resumes to hide their race. Many of these applicants are concerned that their chances to be hired are diminished when they use their given names.

Law School Admissions Lag Among Minorities
Between 1993 and 2008, minority law student representation declined. Law school ranking methodologies may have contributed to this.

In Job Hunt, College Degree Can't Close Racial Gap
It appears that education alone is not enough to eliminate disadvantages that minorities face in the job market.

These Law Firms Are Diverse. Here's How They Got That Way.
The results of making law firm diversity a priority.

Why Does Diversity Matter at College Anyway?
Colleges (and any diverse institution) can offer their students much more when they have diversity on campus.

Diversity On The High Court: Does It Matter?
An NPR debate on what diversity brings to the Supreme Court.

Corporate Performance and Women's Representation on Boards
Women have had a positive financial impact while serving on corporate boards.

Why So Few Minority Women Stay at Law Firms
An ABA study found that nearly half of minority women in private law firms had been subject to some form of discrimination.