I can understand clients seeking out law firms with good diversity records, arolyn.  But, I can’t believe there are many companies who want to sacrifice efficiency and rational resource allocation on particular projects or cases in the name of diversity.  Yes, a handful of individuals might be pressing for such policies at a few big companies, but I expect more rationality from the business community on the whole.  The Commentors at site like The Volokh Conspiracy have pointed out the many problems that the Diversity Pact will create for law firms as employers, and for the privacy rights and employment rights of lawyers at the affected firms. 
p.s.  I think there’s a far broader range of perspectives within each “minority” group, than between the groups. 

I can understand clients seeking out law firms with good diversity records, arolyn.  But, I can’t believe there are many companies who want to sacrifice efficiency and rational resource allocation on particular projects or cases in the name of diversity.  Yes, a handful of individuals might be pressing for such policies at a few big companies, but I expect more rationality from the business community on the whole.  The Commentors at site like The Volokh Conspiracy have pointed out the many problems that the Diversity Pact will create for law firms as employers, and for the privacy rights and employment rights of lawyers at the affected firms. 
p.s.  I think there’s a far broader range of perspectives within each “minority” group, than between the groups. 

David – I blogged about something similar to this at this post – http://www.myshingle.com/my_shingle/2005/04/former_biglaw_a.html#trackback
Seems companies like Shell really are interested in diversity and that’s what’s driving the firms (just as a desire to retain associates drives law firm pro bono programs). But what the firms are doing here is so utterly transparent that I think they may lose out.

David – I blogged about something similar to this at this post – http://www.myshingle.com/my_shingle/2005/04/former_biglaw_a.html#trackback
Seems companies like Shell really are interested in diversity and that’s what’s driving the firms (just as a desire to retain associates drives law firm pro bono programs). But what the firms are doing here is so utterly transparent that I think they may lose out.