Both buy-in from partners and financial investment are required if diversity, equality and inclusiveness (DEI) initiatives are to make a material difference at law firms, research has shown
Obelisk Support published its third annual report last week, ‘Diversity, inclusion & law report 2024: legal leaders making meaningful change’, based on surveys of 133 leaders at law firms. It identified the two main obstacles to progression in the past 12 months: ‘lack of recognition and value’ held for non-billable work on DEI efforts and ‘lack of buy-in from senior leaders’.
Nearly half (46%) of those surveyed said only one to three people within the legal team contribute to DEI initiatives, if it is not within their remit.
More optimistically, 40% expect their organisation to increase funding for DEI in the next 12 months.
Dana Denis-Smith, CEO of Obelisk Support, said changes in law firms in the past decade showed ‘progress is possible and ongoing’.
