Nilesh Patel’s National Law Journal article, “Maintaining diversity efforts in this economy,” addresses the recent National Association for Law Placement (NALP) report that found for the first time in 17 years, there was a decrease in the number of minorities and women at NALP member law firms.

The article discusses ways in which legal employers can build upon successful diversity initiatives and take steps to reduce further loss of their diversity candidates. Such efforts include mentoring, business skills training and conducting exit interviews to assess the effectiveness of diversity efforts.

Patel notes that none of these efforts are easy to implement. While savvy organizations may understand the benefits and pressures that require diversity issues to be taken seriously, the challenge remains to work toward an organizational culture that will retain and further the gains made through diversity recruitment efforts.

Nilesh Patel is a J.D. Career Advisor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. He served on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Diversity Outreach Committee from 2003-2008.

To read the full National Law Journal article, click here.

To read a related NALP post, “An Expert's Voice: Interview with the University of Wisconsin's Nilesh Patel,” click here.

Submitted by UW Law News on February 9, 2011

This article appears in the categories: Articles