There’s no question that running DEI programs at law firms has become more difficult after SFFA v. Harvard and mounting pressure from the Trump administration, but it isn’t impossible. Potential employees and firms looking to hire can still try to make connections, but the anti-DEI climate has forced some changes around how the application process looks. Law.com has coverage:
While a handful of large firms have open DEI roles posted, the quantity of open positions has declined, making each posting more competitive.
…
While some public job postings for law firm DEI roles have opened up since the initial pullback when law firms were being targeted by the administration earlier this year, some open positions don’t name the firm at all until after candidates apply. “We’ve posted for our clients in that way because maybe there’s a hesitation that they are not looking to put their names out there and put a target on their backs,” said Calibrate Strategies recruiter Haley Revel.
The increased competition for the available roles means that firms can choose more qualified applicants, which is great, but workarounds that obscure the name of the firm being applied to could dissuade qualified applicants from applying for the positions. It is far from a perfect solution, but it is an understandable way of balancing searching for qualified applicants without inviting Blum & Co. to knock on your door. Hopefully. Admittedly, it seems like firms that are trying to hide DEI recruitment behind a silk curtain are only delaying the eventual affirmative action by proxy suit to come.
Meet Your New Team: Intuit QuickBooks Unveils The Power Of AI Agents For Business Growth
The future of business is here, and it's powered by QuickBooks.
In the meantime, make the most of the market while you can. Apply, apply, apply!
Law Firm Diversity Professionals Face Challenging Job Market [Law.com]
[E-BOOK] Gain Clarity and Control Over Your Firm’s Finances
Don’t let bad billing habits stall your growth. Download this free e-book and start building financial systems that work as hard as you do.
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.