Each year since we started the Diversity Scorecard, we’ve seen small but consistent increases in the proportion of minority lawyers at large firms. In 2001, only about one partner in 30 was a lawyer of color. Now it’s about one partner in 20.
That’s definitely progress. But it’s slow progress, and it raises the obvious question: How long will it take before large law firms — particularly their partnerships — mirror the general U.S. population, where almost one of every three citizens is a person of color? The likely answer: Decades.
