Major American corporations have recently begun to pressure their outside law firms to meet certain “diversity goals” both firm-wide and in the legal teams assigned to the company’s work. In May 2005, more than sixty of the nation’s top law firms signed a pact agreeing to report the race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual preference of the individual members of their legal teams to their corporate clients. This has resulted in widespread use of race and gender as factors in hiring, promotion, and work assignment decisions by America’s premier law firms. Is this legal? Is it good policy?

At this AEI panel discussion, attorney Curt Levey will discuss his forthcoming paper The Legal Implications of Complying with Race and Gender-Based Client Preferences. Richard Sander will present findings from his recent empirical study of the negative effects of employment preferences on minority attorneys. Shirley Wilcher, and Michele Roberts will defend the legality and wisdom of these recent developments. AEI’s Edward Blum will moderate.