Combating Systemic Bias in Law Firms ftg Professor Katrina June Lee

Combating Systemic Bias in Law Firms ftg Professor Katrina June Lee, Moritz College of Law

With the gender pay gap in law firm partnership compensation as a vehicle, Professor Lee explains how the rules of professional responsibility are largely symbolic on discrimination issues. She proposes a 3-part framework as a springboard to address other consequences of systemic sexism and racism, including underrepresentation of women of color in the partnership ranks.

Building from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of law firms and bar associations, we have an opportunity to accelerate changes in law firm practices in this exceptional moment, following the statements issued by law firms in 2020 and, before that, the rise of the #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo movements.