CHICAGO, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- A report by the American Bar Association released Thursday finds that minority women find advancement in large law firms very difficult.
Compared to white women and minority men, female black, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian-American lawyers are shortchanged on networking and client development opportunities, said the report, "Visible Invisibility: Women of Color at Law Firms." They also endure demeaning comments and harassment and unfair performance evaluations.
At one large law firm, 44 percent of minority women reported being passed over for good assignments, a complaint made by 39 percent of white women, 25 percent of minority men and only 2 percent of white men.
"This study finally sheds light on a troublesome situation that we must now turn into an opportunity -- the opportunity to increase the richness of perspectives in law firms," said ABA President Michael S. Greco.
The ABA said the closing off of opportunities contributes to a large dropout rate among minority woman lawyers.
