Stephanie Scharf’s Gender and Race in the Law Research Featured in Illinois SuperLawyers Magazine

Partner Stephanie Scharf was one of six attorneys featured in the 2022 lllinois Super Lawyers Magazine.  The article, “Numbers Don’t Lie,” focuses on Ms. Scharf’s groundbreaking research on diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and describes Ms. Scharf’s passion for seeking data-driven answers to critical DE&I questions facing the legal profession, including access to the talent pool.   “Fifty per cent of people who graduate law school are women and that has been the case for years.  What is lesser known is that 31 per cent of law students are people of color.  If employers do not hire and promote women and lawyers of color at the same rates as white men, that employer is going to have less access to the talent pool that exists and the level of talent that clients are demanding,” says Ms. Scharf.

In 2006 Ms. Scharf launched the National Association of Women Lawyers Annual Survey on the Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms.  Since then she has conducted fifteen national surveys in the DE&I arena. Her highly acclaimed research reports include “Walking Out the Door:  The Facts, Figures, and Future of Experienced Women Lawyers in Private Practice” and  “Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward,” which she co-authored with her research partner, Roberta “Bobbi” Liebenberg.

“I’m delighted that Super Lawyers Magazine chose to focus on the issue of DE&I research and was honored to be featured,” says Ms. Scharf.  “My goal is to continue to conduct meaningful research and data analysis that drive DE&I business imperatives and help employers implement better policies and practices.”

Please contact Stephanie Scharf for more information about the policies and practices that will help firms and companies move forward.