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Can “Big Law,” the segment of the legal industry that regularly provides assistance, representation and counsel to the nation’s largest and most powerful corporate and economic actors, be an effective force for racial equity in the nation?
When the pandemic and the racial uprisings of 2020 laid bare America’s racial inequality, many big law firms pledged to be “anti-racist.” Since then these firms have launched new “diversity and inclusion” efforts to address representation within their firms, and expanded their commitment to pro-bono and legal service. Many large firms have also joined the Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance, collaborating to promote racial justice within the law. But as large corporate entities, big law firms exist primarily to service their clients. Are these legal entities which are intertwined with a highly stratified economy, capable of contributing to an anti-racist society? If so, what are the crucial steps? In the third installment of our podcast, Professor Scott Cummings (UCLA) and Debo Adegbile (WilmerHale) join the hosts to address the role of “Big Law” in shaping a multiracial democracy.
Through the Gale is a production of the Columbia Law School in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Governance.
Episode Guests
Credits
Through the Gale is a production of the Columbia Law School Anti-Racism Grant Making Program in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Governance.
Production
Written and produced by Alexis Banks, Sneha Pandya, and Marica L. Wright.
Edited and recorded by Devan Kortan and Jake Rosati
Special thanks to Michelle Wilson, Julie Godsoe, Cary Midland, and Kara Van Woerden.
Sound Clips
Instrumentals courtesy of Free Music Archive
Episode Hosts
