Mentoring isn’t enough. That becomes clear from looking at the results of our annual survey on differences among white, black, Asian, and hispanic midlevel associates. Though African American associates are most likely to have a mentor, they’re also more likely to get the least pay and bill the fewest hours. However, they’re averaging a higher salary now than they were three years ago, and as a result the pay gap among the ethnic groups has narrowed
Our study is based on data gathered for the 2011 Midlevel Associates Survey, conducted by The American Lawyer (a sibling publication of Corporate Counsel). This past spring, 5,361 third-, fourth-, and fifth-year associates at 149 firms filled out the Midlevel Associates Survey. Respondents had the option of listing their ethnicity, and almost 90 percent did so: 3,904 white midlevels, 141 black and African American midlevels, 562 Asian midlevels, and 198 Hispanic midlevels.
