US law firms embrace diversity managers

Half of all large US law firms employ a diversity manager or director, according to a survey published last week by US legal management consultancy Altman Weil.

The survey, now in its second year, was conducted among 200 top US firms with a 37% response rate. It shows that 96% of firms have an in-house diversity committee.

More than two-thirds of diversity managers are lawyers in their firms—up from 53% in the first survey. For 61% of diversity managers, the position is full-time, while 29% had a billable hour requirement of between 1,500 and 2,000 hours per year.

Diversity and equality are being taken increasingly seriously by UK firms. Herbert Smith recently became the first City firm to appoint a dedicated diversity manager, while other firms support diversity initiatives such as networking groups and mentoring schemes.

Altman Weil senior consultant Virginia Grant Essandoh says: “Diversity managers are more likely to have law degrees, prior diversity experience and a direct reporting relationship with senior firm management. These are all indicators that the issue of diversity continues to gain importance in US law firms.”