Why Women and People of Color in Law Still Hear “You Don’t Look Like a Lawyer”

Diversity in legal professions has long been a delicate issue – meaning it’s hard and uncomfortable to talk about what real diversity entails. It calls into focus the fact that white men enjoy both racial and gender privilege in the legal industry. This slows down the ability of organizations to create real change and leaves the burden on women and people of color to figure it out on their own. Added to this are the unspoken rules of success in corporate America, not the least of which is “looking the part.” In the legal field, a popular refrain parried at women and people of color is “you don’t look like a lawyer.” A series of interviews with black female lawyers in elite law firms reveals a potent stew of obstacles that get in the way of the ability to train, mentor, retain, and promote young professionals of color.