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Are Asian American Lawyers Too Complacent?

Vivia Chen

March 15, 2017

LJSVV092016header-690x400-1 What are Asian American lawyers complaining about now?

By many measures, they are runaway successes. In 2016, Asian associates represented more than 11 percent of all associates in major firms, the National Association for Law Placement said, while Hispanics and blacks only made up 4.4 and 4.1 percent, respectively. Moreover, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) reports that 31 Asian Pacific Americans now occupy the general counsel seats of Fortune 1000 companies (15 of them in the Fortune 500 in 2016 versus just four in 2006).

Not too shabby for a group that accounts for less than 6 percent of the American population.

But here's the rub: Though they've been swelling the junior ranks of the profession for the last 20 years or so, Asian Americans are still rarities at the top, particularly in Big Law. "They go to the best law schools, the best firms, but the problem is the low conversion rate from associate to partner," says Jean Lee, head of Minority Corporate Counsel Association. (NALP finds that APAs represent 3.13 percent of all partners in big firms.) Compared to other ethnicities, adds Lee, "Asians are leaving [firms] at the highest numbers."

Are APAs not gunning for partnership or are they being nudged out?

In recent years, the default  theory has been unconscious bias—that Asians are penalized because they don't fit the popular image of a leader. "APAs are thought to be better at technical or analytical roles," says Victoria Reese, head of the legal, compliance and government group at search firm Heidrick & Struggles. "Some think that if you need someone with communication or presentation skills, you look at a different slate." And Reese notes that the image problem is even worse for Asian women: "We are frequently asked whether an Asian woman candidate is tough enough."

It's become a familiar trope: the quiet, proficient and—dare we say?—nerdy Asian worker bee. It might be an unfair stereotype, but, increasingly, Asian Americans are also openly admitting that there's some truth behind it, and that they need to take action to counter it.

"Asians are more reticent and less vocal than your typical white guys, says Selena Loh LaCroix, the global head of legal and compliance group for Egon Zehnder, a corporate search company. "They are good at listening, but it's a matter of translating that into action." LaCroix, who's active in NAPABA's "20x20" initiative (the goal is to get 20 APAs in Fortune 500 GC positions by 2020), says: "If you want to rise to the top, you have to make it known that you have a point of view, and that it's valuable."

MCCA's Lee puts the issue even more bluntly: "How many times do you see an APA make a stink?" She adds that many managing partners tell her that "APAs still don't speak up." At the same time, though, Lee stresses that there's often a penalty for the outspoken: "When they do speak up, they're perceived as super-aggressive, so there's a fear about speaking up."

But what Lee finds frustrating about the dearth of Asian American lawyers in top positions is that there's no real consensus in the APA legal community how to tackle the problem—or even an agreement that there is a problem. "We are not making a concerted effort to improve the numbers," says Lee. "Unlike the Black and Hispanic communities, there's a lack of awareness among APAs that it's an issue."

Part of that complacency is that Asian Americans seem so successful compared to other minorities. Another reason is that the presence of Asian Americans in law firms and the legal profession generally in this country is still relatively recent. 

But attributing it all to bias is too pat an explanation. "Many Asian-American attorneys say they've experienced implicit bias," says Goodwin Liu, one of the seven justices on California's Supreme Court and the author of a forthcoming study on Asian-Americans in the profession. "I think that's real, but there are other facets to the problem. For example, Asians know that they labor under the stereotype that they are quiet, and sometimes that stereotype becomes reality. We need to make choices, take risks and put ourselves out there."

Indeed, it's complicated.

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About The Careerist

The Careerist takes an inside look at how lawyers shape their careers and manage their lives. The blog aims to dissect developments in the profession, provide useful information and advice, and give lawyers a platform to voice their views. The goal is to provide a fresh, provocative take on the state of lawyering.

About Vivia Chen

Vivia Chen

Vivia Chen, The Careerist's chief blogger, has been covering the business and culture of law firms for a decade. A former corporate lawyer, Chen is fascinated by those who thrive (as well as those who don't) in the legal profession. Her take: Success in the law (and life) doesn't always travel a linear path. If you have topics you'd like to discuss or information to share, contact her: [email protected]

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