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V O L . X X V I N O. X X V I I N OV E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 2 0 14 L AW F O C U S e 2020 report also shows that while Black and Hispanic law students are more prone to take on student debt, they are more likely to work for the government and as solo practitioners. eir white peers are more likely to land higher-paying jobs at law firms, though salaries vary widely by firm size and seniority. Another report, released in 2019 by the National Association for Law Placement, found that for the first time, Black or African-American rep- resentation among law firm associates finally topped the pre-recession level reached in 2009, although just by one- tenth of a percentage point. At the partner level, the NALP study found that women and people of color continued to make slight gains in 2019, with women experiencing the biggest gains. Women of color continued to be the most dramatically underrepresented as partners, though that percentage nearly doubled in a decade to 3.45%. A third national snapshot, from the Richmond, Va.-based nonprofit Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, shows that the legal profession trails other fields in terms of diversity includ- ing surgeons, accountants and architects and engineers. It also concluded that diversity issues aren't limited to law firms, citing Forbes data showing that women hold a little more than a quarter (26%) of general counsel positions at Fortune 500 firms, while minorities represent only 11%. 'Ingrained in their brain' In Maine, the second-whitest state after Vermont, being a law student or lawyer of color is challenging even for individuals like Rwanda native Felix Hagenimana, a Portland-based immi- gration lawyer who works part-time for the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project. e University of Maine School of Law alumnus speaks several languages and says he isn't bothered when he's mis- taken in court for an interpreter. "I say, 'No I'm the attorney,' but I don't mind it," he says. "I don't think people are trying to be mean, it's just ingrained in their brain and they're not used to seeing someone [of color] in that role." Similarly, Los Angeles native Ambrose Dawson, a first-year student at Maine Law who spent 20 years in the U.S. military, says he's one of only three Black students in his class that he knows of but is glad to be in Portland. "ere's a burgeoning immigrant community here," he says, "so the ability to see people with my skin color isn't A Different Way of Looking at Things In business, you have a lot to keep your eye on. Sometimes it's hard to see the opportunities and the risks clearly. That's where Drummond Woodsum can help. We use a team approach – a small group of highly specialized attorneys focused on helping your business see what's ahead before you take that next step. It's extremely efficient and cost-effective, and an excellent way to get the legal insight you need when you need it. We practice law differently. Since 1965. dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 Stay connected! Receive news, information, and analysis about Maine's business community through e-newsletters that provide a quick update on the most important statewide business news. Sign up for Mainebiz email newsletters Stay informed on statewide real estate and development news with the Real Estate Insider. Catch up on the most talked about Maine business news with our Weekly Report! Don't miss the top business news in Maine with the Daily Report! MAINEBIZ.BIZ/ENEWSLETTERS » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E

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