Law Firms Change Criteria as Suits Target Diversity Programs - Articles

All Content


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Sep 13, 2023

Two national law firms, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Morrison & Foerster, have changed the description and criteria for their diversity scholarships after a group opposed to affirmative action filed suits, Bloomberg Law reports. The American Alliance for Equal Rights sued Morrison & Foerster and Perkins Coie over DEI programs in August. Morrison & Foerster changed its program to remove references to historical underrepresentation in eligibility criteria. Gibson Dunn changed criteria for its $50,000 DEI scholarship, making it available to students “who have demonstrated resilience and excellence on their path toward a career in law” instead of those “who identify with an underrepresented group.” Perkins Coie, which has not changed its program, said it would “vigorously” defend itself against the suit.