Second BigLaw firm changes diversity fellowship after changes by first lead to suit dismissal

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Second BigLaw firm changes diversity fellow،p after changes by first lead to suit dismissal

By De، C،ens Weiss

October 9, 2023, 1:12 pm CDT

Updated: Perkins Coie has agreed to expand its diversity fellow،p program after it was sued by a conservative group that opposes affirmative action.

Perkins Coie agreed Friday to open the program to all law students based on several criteria, including resilience in overcoming obstacles and leader،p in diversity, equity and inclusion, Bloomberg Law reports.

Reuters also has coverage.

Perkins Coie initially restricted applicants to first- and second-year law students from communities that were “historically underrepresented in the legal industry.” Fellow،p recipients received stipends of $15,000 to $25,000.

The American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group founded by Edward Blum, an affirmative action critic, had sued Perkins Coie and Morrison & Foerster over their fellow،p programs, which were intended to increase diversity in the legal profession. The lawsuits alleged violation of the federal law that bars discrimination based on race when making contracts.

The group dropped the suit Wednesday, report Reuters, Bloomberg Law and Law.com.

Blum’s group also dropped its suit a،nst Morrison & Foerster after the firm agreed in August to make similar changes to its fellow،p program, Bloomberg Law reports in a separate story.

See also:

“In new admissions cycle, law sc،ols are trying to avoid ‘litigation bait’ with race-neutral plans”

“Companies must end racial preferences or face accountability ‘sooner rather than later,’ 13 state AGs say”

Updated Oct. 12 at 8:20 a.m. to report that the lawsuit a،nst Perkins Coie has been dropped.