ABA Report: Recession Undermining Diversity Initiatives

An American Bar Association report appears to confirm fears expressed by diversity advocates since the recession began: Spending on law firm diversity initiatives has dried up and layoffs are undoing the gains the profession has made. The ABA's first comprehensive diversity study since the economic collapse hit the legal profession offers no hard numbers on spending cuts but does declare the recession is "creating downsizing and cutbacks that may disproportionately and negatively affect lawyer diversity."