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When the Minority Corporate Counsel Association began its annual surveys a decade ago, the group counted 11 minority GCs in the Fortune 500. This year's survey, published in the current MCCA magazine and on its Web site, counted 38, up from 32 last year.

Progress has been mixed for minorities, the latest survey shows. The number of African Americans in Fortune 500 GC jobs continues to grow slowly, with 22 now holding such posts -- one fewer than last year. On the other hand, the total of all minority GCs is up from 32 last year.

The recent growth has come from the addition of Asian-American general counsel. That number doubled this year, from six to 12.

"We are extremely proud of that," Naomi McLaurin, MCCA's Atlanta-based Southeastern managing director. "Obviously, we're pleased," she added.

MCCA has paid attention to highlighting Asian-American GCs, she said. Three are on its board of directors. The group also gives credit to the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, which last year launched a "10x10 Initiative," named for the goal of having 10 Asian-American GCs in the Fortune 500 by 2010. They passed their goal in a year. In contrast, when the MCCA began its survey a decade ago, the group found only one Asian American.

McLaurin attributed the growth in Asian-American GCs partly to the increasing globalization of America's top corporations. And some may be just coincidence. The first female Asian-American GC in the Fortune 500 was reported in the MCCA's female GC survey this year. Then, within weeks, two more were named.

Overall, the GCs of color are still light on estrogen. "Unfortunately, a huge disparity in gender continues among Fortune 500 general counsel of color, making the group's demographics far from representative of the general population," according to the MCCA survey article. Of the 38 GCs of color, 31 are male.

Of the 31 men, 19 are African American -- one less than last year -- and two are Hispanic -- the same number as last year. One is Native American. The rest, nine, are Asian American.

Of the seven women, three are African American, three are Asian American and one is Hispanic.

Most of the GCs of color had worked previously in law firms, but they also had previous in-house experience before landing their C-suite jobs.

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