Skadden: D. Choate, Hall: C+. Ropes & Gray: B-. Looking at a law firm? Check its report card first.
Building a Better Legal Profession, a grassroots movement begun by law students at Stanford, wants law students, law schools, and law firm clients to exercise their market power by engaging only those firms demonstrating a commitment to demographic diversity, pro bono participation and billable hour reforms. BBLP has created diversity rankings and diversity report cards to draw attention to differences between law firms. BBLP produces statistics on law firms employing more than 100 attorneys in six major markets: New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Boston, Northern California and Southern California-LA. The BBLP Diversity Rankings cover five groups underrepresented in the legal profession: women, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered individuals (LGBT). BBLP obtained its data from the National Association for Legal Career Professionals directory of law firm employment statistics. See the New York Times for recent news coverage (registration required).