Law Firm Diversity Programs

Law Firm Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Vault Law 2021 Law Firm DEI Survey

In 2021, Vault Law introduced its Law Firm Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Survey, in which almost 200 law firms, including approximately 90 percent of the Vault Law 100, took part between May and July 2021.

This new survey focuses on the candidate perspective, to help inform law students and laterals about prospective employers’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition to detailed demographic data, the survey asked firms about measures to address implicit bias in recruitment, promotion, and work allocation; scholarships or internships for diverse students; professional development and mentorship opportunities; compensation information, including whether attorneys receive billable credit for DEI work; parental leave policies and programs available to working parents; steps to ensure inclusiveness for transgender individuals and accessibility for attorneys with disabilities; and much more. The survey results will be released this fall.

Other Upcoming Initiatives

Among other highlights of our DEI programming, Vault’s recent combination with the mentoring and engagement platform Firsthand means that Vault Law will now be able to more directly connect candidates with employers through one-on-one mentoring opportunities, virtual career fairs, and other live events.

If you are interested in learning more about Vault Law’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including the DEI Survey and upcoming career fairs, please contact lawsurveys@vault.com.

Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity Survey

For 17 years, from 2004 through 2020, Vault Law partnered with the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) to conduct the Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity Survey and produce the Vault/MCCA Law Firm Diversity Database. Housing more than 10 years of historical survey data, the database made available to the legal community benchmarking information about the diversity programs at many of the nation’s leading law firms.

Pending release of the 2021 Vault DEI Survey results, the most recent survey data from the 2020 edition of the Vault/MCCA Diversity Survey remain available on the diversity tab of the firm’s Vault Law profile.

Annual Diversity Reports

Vault Law produces an annual diversity report that looks at broader industry trends revealed by the survey data. Stay tuned for the release of Vault Law’s 2021 DEI Survey Report.

You can also download reports from past Vault/MCCA Law Firm Surveys here:

• 2020 Diversity Survey Report
• 2019 Diversity Survey Report
• 2018 Diversity Survey Report
  • Executive Summary of 2018 Report
• 2017 Diversity Survey Report (includes a detailed 10-year review of law firm demographics)
  • Executive Summary of 2017 Report
• 2016 Diversity Survey Report
• 2015 Diversity Survey Report

Sponsorship and Participation

We thank all the law firms who have provided support for these important initiatives, as they play a crucial role to help promote transparency and progress with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.