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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm went to big law after a federal appellate clerkship.

I am a white woman.

I have noticed it, as well, especially with black attorneys (asian attorneys at my firm are treated well) and women, particularly those with children.  They are told that their research and writing skills are mediocre by partners and while not let go, pushed/encouraged out -- after we spent a lot of money and resources recruiting them.  It's confusing to me.

We are great at recruiting diversity, but then seem to do everything to destroy it.

I stay because I have a long-term view but I've been yelled at, told I was worthless, explicitly told that there's no partnership for me, received comments that I don't "look" the part of the firm, criticized for so-called mediocre work.  It's some sort of hazing process where you need to work twice as hard and constantly promise against having children if you are a woman.  After all the threats of my job being at risk and multiple bad reviews by partners who dislike me but love to make me work on weekends, I haven't been fired.  It's been 3 years.[/quote]

Partner here in a DC (branch) big law office.

Honestly, I think women who have kids and black associates (in particularly) are completely, utterly screwed in big law. They can't win for trying. Most figure out this fairly quickly, take the money/maternity leave and quit. But others are truly treated poorly.

When this report came out (http://www.blueprintjd.org/diversity/the-myth-that-black-lawyers-cant-write/), I asked my previous firm where I was a partner and the response was basically either silence or some justification saying this stuff never happens, HERE.

I lateraled because I'm a mercenary who looks out for his own bottom line and got a better deal at my current spot. But it's like unsaid, but yeah.

For black associates, I'd be honest. Big law isn't a good place. People don't want anyone (black or white) to be successful beyond making them looking good to their own clients (but don't get too close and try to poach). And like the PP said, firms are always looking for ways to cull the herd and reduce staffing as associates move up. The easiest way is to just claim black associates suck as a general rule and to bitch about their work product (which honestly is basically the same garbage untrained white associates turn in). The difference is the response to the garbage. You are more likely to get positive feedback and coaching if you're a white male. Then the white associate moves up, begins to take on more responsibility, develops, etc. For the black associate, you're shown the door before any of this happens. Rinse and repeat, complain about lack of qualified candidates, blah blah. A similar deal happens to women who take too many maternity leaves.

The good black attorneys are, indeed, doing well at DOJ and other places from what I've seen (I work in white collar/FCPA). It seems they finally get support and training and move up in the profession there.[/quote]

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