The Momentum for Black Lawyers Might Already Be Fading

Reading the National Association for Law Placement’s latest report on diversity in law firms is like being jerked by a yo-yo.

One minute the data brings you up: In 2022, associates were 49.4% women and 28.3% people of color—both historic highs—hooray!

The next minute, you’re hitting the floor: Among equity partners in Big Law, women and people of color still lagged far behind, comprising just 22.6% and 9%, respectively, of this most coveted class.

In case you forgot who’s still on top, the report spells it out for you: “White men continue to be disproportionately represented in the equity partner ...