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

08 D I V E R S I T Y, E QU I T Y & I N C L U S I ON

What initiatives have been implemented to improve diversity within your firm?

When it comes to steps taken to help improve diversity by firms, the creation of affinity/employee resource groups are a proven favorite this year with 71% of respondents indicating they have created such groups to support and develop a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture. Mentorship programs are also popular among surveyed firms at 57% of firms ; 52% of firms participate in national diversity organizations. Initiatives that have received less attention for law firms include hiring a Chief Diversity Officer (or similar), and diversity plans. A third of law firms are actively working on implementing a diversity plan, largely improving from only 16% of firms who said the same last year. However, 10% of firms surveyed indicated they have not implemented any diversity plan whatsoever.

Creation of affinity/employee resource groups

71%

Creation of mentorship program

57%

Participation in national diversity organizations

52%

Creation of firm-wide diversity mission statement

49%

Working on implementing a diversity plan

33%

Hiring of Chief Diversity Officer or similar

33%

Have NOT implemented any diversity plan

10%

Other

3%

Source: Cushman & Wakefield Research

52% of firms participate in national diversity organizations.

30 | BRIGHT INSIGHT