A new study finds that more than 75% of minority lawyers working in law firms quit within five years. Women’s research group Catalyst conducted the study, which stated the following: “Those who leave often report experiencing institutional discrimination and unwanted and or unfair critical attention, which combine to create an exclusionary and challenging workplace.”
Asian-American women, for example, have reported stereotypes of being subservient and the willingness to work nonstop. Latina women said people assumed they could speak Spanish and liked spicy food. And so on. And generally, minority women of the same ethnic background were often addressed by the same name.
These stereotypes aren’t exclusive to law firms; they exist in virtually every kind of workplace. But 75% of minority lawyers leaving? That’s huge, and that’s scary. We need more minority lawyers to represent our growing population and presence in the U.S., and we need them to stay. Otherwise, it’s going to be another 111 Supreme Court justices before the next Sonia Sotomayor.
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3 Comments to “Three-quarters of Minority Lawyers Quit Within 5 Years”
tiennguyen wrote:
This study doesn't mention anything about the “normal” rates of leave, making it completely worthless..
A quick google search found this:
http://www.jdblissblog.com/attorney_retention.html
“The turnover rate among attorneys at law firms has increased sharply in recent years. According to a study by the NALP Foundation in 2006, an astounding 78% of new associates leave their firms by the end of their 5th year (up from 60% in 2000).”
The #'s used are probably generated differently, so it's hard to compare the studies directly but this would indicate that female minorities are LESS likely to leave than the general attorney population.
Posted on 24-Jul-09 at 11:28 am | Permalink
radchaudhry wrote:
“Otherwise, it’s going to be another 111 Supreme Court justices before the next Sonia Sotomayor.”
I'm not sure about this statement. As long as Democrats are in power or at least competitive, this is unlikely judging from recent (or not so recent depending on how you view ~50 years) history.
In 45 years, no Democratic president has put a single white Protestant or Catholic man or woman on the court.
Six nominees have been sent to Congress by Democrats since 1964: Thurgood Marshall, an African-American, four Jewish nominees—Arthur Goldberg, Abe Fortas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, and one Latina, Sonia Sotomayor. The last time a white Christian male was elevated by Democrats was when JFK put Byron White on in 1962.
Posted on 24-Jul-09 at 11:31 am | Permalink
LindaChan wrote:
tien–Wow, I hadn't even thought to look that up. You're right, that number is astounding and almost suggests minority retention is higher. Still, minorities (particularly females) are reporting problems that Caucasians don't face. All things being equal, minorities might stay longer than whites. Who knows? But as it stands, a 75% turnover rate is still alarming.
rad–I should've clarified–when I referenced Sonia Sotomayor, I was trying to say a non-white female, or female minority. (We could have a much longer discussion on whither and how Jews are/are not a minority.
) But yes, Democrats have a much more forward vision in terms of selecting minorities and women for high-ranking posts. Obama in particular seems determined to fill every seat he can with Latinas, Asians, women.
Posted on 24-Jul-09 at 1:01 pm | Permalink
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