2. History
• 1992 HCBA produces Glass Ceiling Task Force
Report
• 1992 Self Audit for Gender Equity (SAGE)
program starts
• 2002 First SAGE study
• 2003 MSBA approves SAGE Best Practices
• 2005-06 MSBA Task Force on diversity
gender, race, sexual
orientation, religion, disability
• 2010 - 2011 Diversity Survey Update
3. Methodology
Employer survey
• 42 law firm participants
• 65 non firm participants
• Included questions about # of GLBT and
disabled attorneys
Individual survey
• 1,100 respondents
• more attorneys with 5 years or less experience
Focus groups — 10 conducted
14. Promotion to Partnership/Women
• 45% of lawyers eligible for equity partnership
were female
• Of those eligible, 44% were considered for
equity partnership
• Of those considered, 45% were made equity
partners
15. Promotion to Partnership/
Attorneys Of Color
• 4% of lawyers eligible for equity partnership
were of color
• Of those eligible, 5% were considered for
equity partnership
• Of those considered, 7% of lawyers were
made equity partners
• No lawyers of color were eligible for
non-equity partnership
16. Promotion of Women/Non Firms
• 59% of lawyers eligible for promotion to
supervisory positions were women
• Of those eligible, 55% were considered for
promotion to supervisory positions
• Of those eligible, 71% were promoted to
supervisory positions
17. Promotion of Attorneys
of Color/Non Firms
• 16% of lawyers eligible for promotion to
supervisory positions were of color
• Of those eligible, 18% of were considered for
promotion to supervisory positions
• Of those considered, 14% were promoted to
supervisory positions
18. Compensation Criteria/Firms
• For associates the top criterion for setting
compensation was billable hours
• For equity/non-equity partners the top
criterion for setting compensation was
business generation
19. Compensation Criteria/Non Firms
• The top criteria for setting compensation at
non firms for all attorneys were:
– Performance evaluation results
– Quality of work
– Communication skills
20. Work Distribution
Firms
• One quarter had formalized criteria for work
distribution to associates
• None had formalized criteria for work distribution to
partners
Non Firms
• Nearly half had formalized criteria for work distribution
to attorneys with less than 5 years experience
• Nearly one third had formalized criteria for work
distribution to supervisory attorneys
21. Performance Evaluations
Firms
• All associates receive reviews
• 32% of equity partners receive reviews
• 21% of non equity partners receive reviews
Non Firms
• All permanent attorneys receive reviews
