Morrison Foerster LLP and Perkins Coie LLP, prominent law firms, recently announced that they would no longer use race as an exclusive factor in selecting candidates for their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) fellowships for law students. The policy revisions follow in the wake of lawsuits filed against the firms in August, which alleged racial discrimination against non-minority applicants.
The lawsuits underscore the delicate balance law firms need to strike between creating equal opportunities and avoiding discriminatory practices. Racial considerations, until now, have been a part of Perkins Coie and Morrison Foerster’s DEI strategy to encourage representation and diversity within the legal profession.
As the debate around diversity initiatives, affirmative action, and their balance with anti-discrimination laws continues to rage within the legal community, the announcement by these firms marks an important development.
For more detailed information on the topic, you can read the full article at Law360.