For the first time in a decade, the percentage of diverse attorneys at our nation’s largest law firms declined. This decline was directly linked to the unexpected economic downturn. However, law firms and the economy are beginning to show signs of stabilizing, and now is the time to fully utilize all of the law firm’s assets, particularly its diverse attorneys, to increase and maintain the competitive advantage.
We must remember that diverse attorneys are not hired simply because of their diverse appearance. Rather, the diversity of thought that they offer, based upon their different experiences, provides law firms with an additional weapon that can add value to the successful representation of clients. Unfortunately, this competitive edge is often overlooked or under-utilized.
