TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Barry Kolar on Jan 7, 2022

Large law firms are increasingly adding diversity and inclusion officers to their top leadership as efforts to diversify the legal profession have stagnated, an ABA Journal article says. Multiple surveys show progress for women and people of color is advancing slowly, and a growing number of firms are hoping that creation of chief diversity officer positions will help change that. “Firms are now realizing that this is something important that they need to do in order to be successful,” says Paulette Brown, who in 2015 became the first African American woman to serve as ABA president. “More leaders are actively involved. Firms have to be hyperintentional about these issues of diversity and inclusion.” Law.com looks at the experience of one firm — Nixon Peabody — that recently created a new chief diversity officer position.