The Myth of the Meritocracy: A Report on the Bridges and Barriers to Success in Large Law Firms

Table of Contents

SPECIAL NOTE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Introduction and Research Methodology
2. Findings and Conclusions
3. Recommendations

INTRODUCTION

1. The Myth of the Meritocracy
2. Purpose of Study

STUDY OVERVIEW

1. Survey of Credentials of Nearly 2000 Partners
2. Interviews with Power Players in the National Law Journal Top 250 Law Firms
3. Research Team

FINDINGS – WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO SUCCEED

1. Partners - Credentials and Demographics
2. What Do the Credentials Mean?
3. Do Your Credentials Follow You?
4. Choice of Law School – Help or Hindrance?
5. The Brass Ring: Partnership

DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES

1. Experience of Partners of Color
2. Experience of Women Partners

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

APPENDICES

1. Barriers to Success from Creating Pathways to Diversity – Law Firm Recommended Practices
2. US News & World Report – List of Top Law Schools – 2003
3. US News & World Report – Tier 2 Law Schools – 2003
4. Selected Bibliography

   Copyright 2003 by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association All rights reserved No part of this document may be copied, reproduced, referenced without appropriate citation to MCCA, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including via the internet, without the written permission of MCCA