The American influence

Following up on recent posts about law firm diversity in the UK…

It’s worth noting that among the top 10 law firms for diversity in our UK quality of life rankings were several U.S.-based firms. In diversity for minorities, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LeBoeuf Lamb and Latham & Watkins took the first three spots, respectively. At Latham, more than one London solicitor attributed the firm’s success in this area to its American roots: “Being a US firm, they are very strong on promoting minorities and diversity, with a Diversity Committee, Diversity Scholarships and Diversity Conference each year in America for all minorities to meet up,” says one junior solicitor. Another more senior lawyer agrees: “As a US firm, L&W takes diversity very seriously and has a very diverse workforce.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean the American firms’ associates had much more to say about diversity than their London-based counterparts. At Skadden, for example, which made the top 10 of each of our diversity rankings, Londoners offered little more than vague murmurs that “diversity is furthered in all sectors” and assertions that the firm is “genuinely meritocratic.”

When it comes to other aspects of diversity, Legal Week reports that significantly more UK lawyers “believe firms should monitor and seek to promote diversity in race and ethnic background” than believe that gender, physical disability or age are important.

Perhaps. But in responding to our survey, more solicitors seem to have—or be willing to voice—opinions on the topic of gender than on that of race or ethnicity. And among UK lawyers, the issues seem to be similar to those expressed by lawyers in the States. As one Edinburgh lawyer at Scottish firm Dundas & Wilson observes, “The firm is, probably like most places, heavily staffed by women and being a woman does not make a difference to being promoted. What will make a difference, however, is whether or not you work part time and how you choose to balance work and home life. The more attention you pay to your home life (e.g., working part time or less present in the office) the harder climbing the career ladder will become.”

– posted by vera