The 75-strong group, led by author and Massachusetts Appeals Court Judge Fernande Duffly, believes adding information on non-equity partners would give a better picture on diversity at member firms of the NALP. The letter notes an equal number of men and women graduate law school, but women comprise only 16% to 17% of equity partners at major law firms. Minorities account for only 5.4% of law firm partners, according to the letter.
“While many law firms have taken steps to address this problem, progress has been slow and difficult to measure. The continuing disparities at the equity partnership level have a significant and far-reaching impact on the legal profession, including by reducing the number of women and minority attorneys who are positioned to apply for judgeships or assume leadership roles in the community,” the letter states.
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The NALP, formerly known as the National Association for Law Placement, said earlier this year it would not be able to provide such information because law firms were “unable or unwilling to provide the information requested in the new equity/non-equity partner categories.”
According to the organization, many firms said they would not provide such information because of privacy and confidentiality issues.
