Decline in Diversity Tracking by Legal Departments Raises Concerns About Commitment to DEI Initiatives

A recent study has shown a significant decline in the number of legal departments tracking diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics. According to the 2025 Law Department Management Benchmarking Report released by the Association of Corporate Counsel and Major, Lindsey & Africa, only 11% of legal departments currently monitor the diversity of their outside counsel. This represents a sharp drop from 22% in the previous year. The statistics underscore a notable shift away from prioritizing DEI initiatives, raising questions about the commitments of corporate legal departments to these efforts. Legal professionals and corporate entities may need to reassess their strategies to address this downward trend in DEI accountability.