Law Office Management
Sep. 2, 2008
Tracking the Associates
The number of female associates and associates of color is on the rise at California's largest law firms.
In an analysis of associate lawyer data culled from 40 of California?s 50 largest firms, CALIFORNIA LAWYER found that two firms, Heller Ehrman and McDermott Will & Emery, have seen the number of their associates decline in each of four categories: total number, female associates, associates of color, and incoming associates. But most firms grew: Sixteen increased their numbers in all four categories while 13 firms increased their numbers in three categories.
Heller and Bingham McCutchen are the two firms that dropped the most in overall number of associates, with 9.4 percent and 6.8 percent fewer associates, respectively, from May 2007 to May 2008. On the other end of the scale, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips increased its associate numbers by 32.7 percent, while Greenberg Traurig increased its numbers by 55 percent, making these two the top two firms in percentage growth of associates. On average, the ?California 40? firms had 7.2 percent more associates over the time period.
Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold lost the greatest percentage of female associates, with a 21.9 percent decline. On average, though, the share of female associates increased by 10.8 percent, from 66 to 74 female associates. Hanson Bridgett showed the biggest percentage gain in female associates, with a full 81.8 percent jump, followed by Manatt, which reported 45.7 percent more female associates than in May 2007.
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp and Kirkland & Ellis showed the biggest drops in associates of color, at 22.2 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively. Loeb & Loeb showed a dramatic rise in associates of color, but from a small base: Its numbers jumped 50 percent, from 6 to 9 associates of color. Numerically, Howrey?s rise was more significant, increasing 44.4 percent, to 26 associates of color, up from 18 since May 2007. Firms had an average of 44.6 associates of color, showing a 9.9 percent rise from the previous year?s average of 40.6 associates.
Finally, Munger, Tolles & Olson showed the biggest decline in incoming associates, dropping 46.7 percent, to an incoming class of 16 compared to last year?s class of 30. Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro saw a 500 percent jump in its fall class, adding 6 first-year associates, compared to just 1 in 2007. The firm average for incoming associates was virtually flat at about 26 both this year and last.
Usman Baporia
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