Biglaw Firm Changes Tack After Diversity Lawsuit
The Supreme Court has forced changes to Biglaw's diversity programs.
Perkins Coie, one of the Biglaw firms under fire for its diversity fellowship, has decided to rewrite its program in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision dismantling affirmative action in colleges. In August, Perkins and Morrison & Foerster were sued over their fellowships. The plaintiff is The American Alliance for Equal Rights, founded by Edward Blum — the same person behind Students for Fair Admissions, the plaintiff in the affirmative action Supreme Court case.
According to a statement on the firm’s website, the new fellowship will be open to all, as opposed to its previous program which was for applicants from “historically underrepresented” groups, but is designed to still promote diversity.
The new Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Program expands the applicant pool to all and clarifies the factors that the firm will consider in selecting fellows. The revised criteria will ensure that the firm continues to hire accomplished lawyers with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences. These changes arose from an update to Perkins Coie’s D&I policies that began shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College case earlier this year.
![Trust The Process: How To Build And Manage Workflows In Law Firms](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/06/stopwatch-5646500_1280-150x150.jpg)
Trust The Process: How To Build And Manage Workflows In Law Firms
Genhi Givings Bailey, Perkins Coie’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, commented on the change, saying, “Our new Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship Program continues Perkins Coie’s long-standing and deep-rooted commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our firm and across the legal profession. We are proud of our firm’s progress and even as the legal landscape evolves, our commitment to strengthening diversity and creating a more inclusive workplace remains steadfast.”
The well-crafted statement on diversity is only a part of the firm’s commitment to diversity. Attorneys also have a 50-billable-hour credit they can use for DEI-related activities — a program unlikely to be impacted by the new legal landscape.
Previously, Senator Tom Cotton threatened Biglaw firms over their DEI initiatives. However, the industry hasn’t done much more than shrug in response to that threat.
Earlier: Biglaw Caves: Morrison Foerster Changes Diversity Fellowship Criteria Following Lawsuit
Two Biglaw Firms Sued Over Diversity Initiatives
Sponsored
![Not All Legal AI Is Created Equal](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/06/cocounsel-150x150.jpg)
Not All Legal AI Is Created Equal
![Trust The Process: How To Build And Manage Workflows In Law Firms](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/06/stopwatch-5646500_1280-150x150.jpg)
Trust The Process: How To Build And Manage Workflows In Law Firms
![A Law Firm Checklist For Successful Transaction Management](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/06/TR-Platform-law-firm-checklist-150x150.png)
A Law Firm Checklist For Successful Transaction Management
![How To Build And Manage Your Law Firm Rate Sheet](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/05/graph-3033203_1280-150x150.jpg)
How To Build And Manage Your Law Firm Rate Sheet
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
Sponsored
![How To Build And Manage Your Law Firm Rate Sheet](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/05/graph-3033203_1280-150x150.jpg)
How To Build And Manage Your Law Firm Rate Sheet
![How Savvy Lawyers Build Their Law Firm Rate Sheet](https://abovethelaw.com/uploads/2024/05/e-commerce-402822_1280-150x150.jpg)