Pimpin’ DEI: The Big Business of Diversity & Inclusion

J. Danielle Carr, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The number of people and companies making money from touting a cure for the legal industry’s inequities grows on a daily basis. It is also true that just a small fraction of those that claim to have the answers actually do. I also call to readers’ attention the growing number of law firms that claim to be moving the DEI needle that are doing nothing more maintaining the status quo. This is done through well-worded website declarations and multiple thousands of highly publicized dollars donated to organizations and affinity bar associations. A number of the sponsored organizations are making an impact, but the benefits of the work rarely trickle back to effect change at the sponsoring firms.

For those that truly value DEI and want to work for or do business with a law firm that shares this value, how can you distinguish those who are breaking down DEI barriers from those that have simply gotten really good with smoke and mirrors?

Reprinted with permission from the Winter 2022 issue of Savoy magazine. © 2022 Savoy. All Rights Reserved.