Racial and ethnic minority representation in large U.S. law firms

Elizabeth H. Gorman; Fiona M. Kay

doi:10.1108/S1059-4337(2010)0000052010

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Studies in Law, Politics, and Society

ISSN: 1059-4337
Series editor(s): Professor Austin Sarat

Subject Area: Sociology and Public Policy

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Racial and ethnic minority representation in large U.S. law firms

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Title:	Racial and ethnic minority representation in large U.S. law firms
Author(s):	Elizabeth H. Gorman, Fiona M. Kay
Volume:	52 Editor(s): Austin Sarat ISBN: 978-0-85724-357-7 eISBN: 978-0-85724-358-4
Citation:	Elizabeth H. Gorman, Fiona M. Kay (2010), Racial and ethnic minority representation in large U.S. law firms, in Austin Sarat (ed.) Special Issue Law Firms, Legal Culture, and Legal Practice (Studies in Law, Politics, and Society, Volume 52), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.211-238
DOI:	10.1108/S1059-4337(2010)0000052010 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	Although law schools have seen rising representation of diverse racial and ethnic groups among students, minorities continue to represent disproportionately small percentages of lawyers within large corporate law firms. Prior research on the nature and causes of minority underrepresentation in such firms has been sparse. In this paper, we use data on a national sample of more than 1,300 law firm offices to examine variation across large U.S. law firms in the representation of African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Americans. Overall, minorities are better represented in offices located in Western states and in major metropolitan areas; offices that are larger and affiliated with larger firms; offices of firms with higher revenues and profits per partner; offices with greater associate–partner leverage; and branch offices rather than principal offices. They are equally distributed between offices with single-tier and two-tier partnerships. Distinct patterns emerge, however, when the three groups are considered separately and when hierarchical rank within firms is taken into account.