Goodwin has once again been named a Best Law Firm for Women and Diversity by Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media), marking the thirteenth time the firm has appeared on the annual list. This year, Seramount honored firms that utilize best practices in recruiting, retaining, promoting, and developing women lawyers and lawyers from historically excluded groups, including people of color. Goodwin was ranked 11th out of the 50 firms that earned spots on this year’s list.
Goodwin actively supports women lawyers and lawyers from historically excluded communities through a number of efforts, including its firm-sponsored affinity groups, Women@Goodwin, CRED@Goodwin (Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity), and Pride@Goodwin, which serve to support and maximize opportunities for those at the firm with historically excluded identities.
Goodwin has also taken steps to address inequities and barriers to advancement faced by those with intersectional identities. The firm formalized its Women of Color Initiative, which has been a critical tool for building community, providing support, and helping members connect and identify professional networking opportunities. Goodwin also introduced Connect & Center Circles, which bring together different groups such as first generation professionals and allies, veterans and military family members, and the disabled community. Highlights of the 2023 Best Law Firms for Women & Diversity include:
- Representation by the numbers: Forty-two percent of lawyers are women, up from 41 percent last year; 23 percent of lawyers are people of color, up from 22 percent last year; 34 percent of lawyers hired are people of color, up from 33 percent last year; 41 percent of women lawyers hired are women of color, up from 39 percent last year.
- Advancement by the numbers: The percentage of women promoted to equity partner is 39 percent, up from 37 percent last year; the percentage of people of color promoted to equity partner is 17 percent, down from 18 percent last year.
- Benefits by the numbers: 84 percent of firms offer backup childcare, up from 80 percent last year; 90 percent subsidize everyday childcare costs, up from 88 percent last year.
Seramount’s nomination process includes more than 300 questions about attorney demographics at different levels, flexibility, paid time off and parental leaves, and development and retention of women and people of color as well as those from other historically excluded groups. Questions about family-friendly benefits and mentoring and sponsorship participation were also included.