| dc.description.abstract | The thesis is a qualitative study of the diversity boom in City law firms. The central
research question asks why there should have been such a number of diversity policies
implemented in recent years by these firms. The findings are based on interviews with
diversity staff and lawyers in eleven of the fifteen largest U. K. law firms, with two global
law firms and with the Minister responsible for diversity in the legal profession at the (then)
Department of Constitutional Affairs. Interviews were also conducted with diversity staff in
three investment banks in order to triangulate data about the role of clients and provide a
comparative perspective.
The key finding of the research is that certain outside parties play a critical role in
pressurizing City law firms to take action on diversity. The most important parties for these
purposes are clients, the legal press and interest groups who each leverage power over law
firms in highly effective ways, such as by inventing and awarding prizes. The Government
and the Law Society play surprisingly low key roles, choosing to act as persuaders rather
than to exert decisive exogenous pressures. However, notwithstanding the key role of
outsiders in explaining these policies, power relations within firms are also very important,
and partners in particular play a key role in decision making. Overall, the study finds that
the diversity policies which get made are those which powerful outsiders demand and of
which powerful insiders approve. The thesis concludes With a discussion of the
implications of these findings. | en_US |
