I know I’m a pain about gender and diversity issues, so I don’t take it personally when law firms sometimes avoid me like an STD. Sure, they love to tell me about their newest, most awesome diversity initiatives, but if I press them about their track records on female or black equity partners—well, let’s just say, they’re not so forthcoming.
But I’ve noticed an exception to this rule. Firms with major labor and employment practices usually chase me down to tout their diversity records. Their spiel is that they’re not like the other big firms. It’s like they’re saying, “See! We have female and black partners! And more than just one or two!”
