Women and Minority Partners in Big Law

Despite decades of talk in the legal industry about improving diversity inside law firms, women and minorities nationwide have experienced slow progress toward making partner. Just 19 percent of partners industrywide are women, and only 6 percent are minorities, according to the latest National Association for Law Placement figures. It hasn't helped that the recession has slowed down hiring in general at law firms.

In California, larger law firms seem to be doing slightly better by women and minorities. On average, 21 percent of the partners in the state's biggest firms are women and 12 percent are minorities, according to this magazine's 2011 California 50 survey.

PARTNER DIVERSITY AT CALIFORNIA 50 FIRMS

Women Partners

Highest 32%

Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi (28) Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith (303) Sidley Austin (100)

Lowest 10%

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell (70) Rutan & Tucker (91) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (50)

Minority Partners

Highest 22%

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (70)

Lowest 1%

Downey Brand (59)

Note: The figure in parentheses after each firm's name is its total number of partners (all sexes and ethnicities).

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