Trump Big Law Diversity Probe Sows Doubt About Reach of EEOC

Big Law firms grappling with a sweeping Trump administration demand for their hiring and diversity data now must navigate the thorny path of whether to comply and how it could be enforced.

Letters sent March 17 to 20 law firms by acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Andrea Lucas, say their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices may be discriminatory under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

The letters tell major firms such as Morgan Lewis and Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett to provide extensive data on decisions including hiring, promotions, and diverse staffing requests from their corporate ...