Biglaw

Biglaw Firm Changes Tack After Diversity Lawsuit

The Supreme Court has forced changes to Biglaw's diversity programs.

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diversity-5541062_640Perkins Coie, one of the Biglaw firms under fire for its diversity fellowship, has decided to rewrite its program in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision dismantling affirmative action in colleges. In August, Perkins and Morrison & Foerster were sued over their fellowships. The plaintiff is The American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Edward Blum — the same person behind Students for Fair Admissions, the plaintiff in the affirmative action Supreme Court case.

According to a statement on the firm’s website, the new fellowship will be open to all, as opposed to its previous program which was for applicants from “historically underrepresented” groups, but is designed to still promote diversity.

The new Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Program expands the applicant pool to all and clarifies the factors that the firm will consider in selecting fellows. The revised criteria will ensure that the firm continues to hire accomplished lawyers with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. These changes arose from an update to Perkins Coie’s D&I policies that began shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College case earlier this year.

Genhi Givings Bailey, Perkins Coie’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, commented on the change, saying, “Our new Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Program continues Perkins Coie’s long-standing and deep-rooted commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our firm and across the legal profession. We are proud of our firm’s progress and even as the legal landscape evolves, our commitment to strengthening diversity and creating a more inclusive workplace remains steadfast.”

The well-crafted statement on diversity is only a part of the firm’s commitment to diversity. Attorneys also have a 50-billable-hour credit they can use for DEI-related activities — a program unlikely to be impacted by the new legal landscape.

Previously, Senator Tom Cotton threatened Biglaw firms over their DEI initiatives. However, the industry hasn’t done much more than shrug in response to that threat.

Earlier: Biglaw Caves: Morrison Foerster Changes Diversity Fellowship Criteria Following Lawsuit
Two Biglaw Firms Sued Over Diversity Initiatives

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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.

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