Law firms in Greater Boston are struggling with an ongoing dilemma: how to foster diverse talent that reflects their clients and most importantly, society in general. The lack of diversity in Boston’s legal community has shed a light on the reality that to remain competitive in today’s changing demographics, our legal industry must recruit and train a workforce that mirrors the mosaic of America.

US law firms are the training grounds for the nation’s next generation of legal talent. Many lawyers who begin their careers at these firms will leave to become the nation’s next generation of chief executive officers, general counsels, judges, politicians, and academics. As the demographics of America become more diverse and the basis of our economy becomes more global, law firms must be creative in finding ways to foster talent. Producing attorneys with the necessary legal skills, and capturing the benefits of their unique life experiences and perspectives, helps law firms increase the quality of their client services. This, in turn, also raises the value of products and services that clients can provide to their end users, the consumer.