2023 Bright Insight: The 2023 National Legal Sector Benchmark Survey Results

On a scale from 1–5 (with 1 being not diverse at all, and 5 being very diverse), how would you rank your firm’s attorney diversity in each of the following areas?

Firms listed on the Global 100 and Am Law 200 appear to be more DEI conscious than firms that don’t appear on either list as they indicated higher levels of diversity in each individual area when compared to firms outside the Am Law 200. Respondents rated themselves somewhat similarly across gender, religion, veteran status, and disability but wider variance is observed in both sexual orientation/gender identity and race. On average, unlisted firms rated themselves as not diverse (2) in both categories while firms in the Global 100 rated themselves as diverse. Am Law 50 firms indicated higher levels of diversity in both categories when compared to firms ranked 51-100 on the Am Law 200. Veteran status and disability were two diversity areas newly added to the survey this year and firms have indicated that they are not diverse with respect to both statuses leaving significant room for improvement. Global 100 firms have the highest level of diversity in respect to Veterans with an average rating of 2.5 and Am Law 50 firms show the highest level of diversity regarding disability status at 2.5, on average.

Global 100 Am Law 1 - 50 Am Law 51 - 100 Am Law 200 None of the above

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

Gender

Sexual orientation / Gender identity

Race

Religion

Veteran status

Disability

Source: Cushman & Wakefield Research

Am Law 50 firms indicated higher levels of diversity in sexual orientation/gender identity and race when compared to firms ranked 51-100 on the Am Law 200.

THE 2023 NATIONAL LEGAL SECTOR BENCHMARK SURVEY RESULTS | 29