Racial diversity among new law students hit a historic high in the final admissions cycle before a national ban on affirmative action took effect, new ABA data shows.
Even as racial diversity in the overall U.S. legal industry lags far behind that of the general population, 40% of this fall’s new class are students of color, according to a Law School Admission Council analysis of the ABA data. That's an increase from 39% in 2022, marking the third straight year that law schools have collectively enrolled the most diverse class on record.
Read more about diversity at law schools.
More from the legal industry …
The U.S. Supreme Court paid tribute to Sandra Day O'Connor, the court's first female justice, who died on Dec. 1 … The Senate approved Sara Hill's nomination as the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge in Oklahoma … President Joe Biden plans to nominate five new trial court judges in Texas, Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming … Texas Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur does not have to recuse himself from a case over ties with scandal-hit predecessor … Kirkland & Ellis is raising its top hourly billing rates … The law firms representing consumers in Google app store settlement, including Bartlit Beck and Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer, plan to request up to $122.8 million in legal fees … U.S. prosecutors are seeking an eight-month prison term for a Brazilian lawyer who pleaded guilty to insider trading while serving as a visiting attorney at Gibson Dunn … Nebraska and Kentucky are the latest states to commit to using the Next Gen bar exam in July 2027 … Danielle Gray, the global chief legal officer to Walgreens Boots Alliance is stepping down in January … Dentons’ leader Elliott Portnoy will step down from his post as global CEO next November.
Moves:
In New York …
Hinshaw added privacy, cybersecurity, and AI regulatory partner Cathy Mulrow-Peattie from Loeb & Loeb … Insurance recovery partner Peter Halprin joined Haynes and Boone from Pasich … Stroock grew its financial services, regulatory and white collar litigation with the addition of two partners and two associates in New York and D.C.
In Washington, D.C. …
Economic development lawyer Stephanie Yarbrough joined King & Spalding’s corporate practice from Womble … Barnes & Thornburg picked up executive compensation partner Brittany McCants from Bass, Berry & Sims.
In Chicago …
Venable hired crisis management and disputes lawyer Desirée Moore as a partner from K&L Gates.
In Philadelphia…
Fox Rothschild hired labor and employment partner Robert Seiger from Archer & Greiner.
In Miami …
Trust and estates partner Melissa Rodriguez joined Day Pitney’s private client department from Akerman.
In Austin …
King & Spalding brought on IP partner Alfonso Chan from McKool Smith for its trial and global disputes practice.
In Toronto …
Mintz hired partner Mervyn Allen from McMillan to launch the firm’s real estate practice in Canada.
In London …
Nicole Kar, the global head of the antitrust and foreign investment group at Linklaters, departed the firm to co-chair Paul Weiss’s antitrust practice … Private equity lawyer Christopher Sullivan and finance lawyer Taner Hassan joined Paul Weiss as partners from Clifford Chance … McDermott picked up partner Robert Marshall in its employee benefits and executive compensation group … Simpson Thacher hired Katie McMenamin as a partner in the firm’s fund finance practice from Travers Smith … Reed Smith added Linklaters’ partner Mark Drury to its financial industry group.
In Frankfurt …
Morgan Lewis brought on a pair of private equity partners from Bird & Bird, including the co-head of its international private equity group.
In the UAE …
Greenberg Traurig hired partner David Bintliff, who advises media, entertainment and technology clients in the Middle East, from Bird and Bird.
And finally …
Haynes and Boone; Thompson Coburn; and Snell & Wilmer announced their partner classes for 2024.
