EEOC Investigates DEI Practices at 20 Major U.S. Law Firms

The Trump administration's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is scrutinizing policies for potential violations of Title VII anti-discrimination laws.

The EEOC, led by Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, has sent letters to 20 prominent law firms requesting detailed information about their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The investigation focuses on whether these DEI practices violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by engaging in unlawful disparate treatment based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics.
Firms are required to provide demographic data, hiring practices, and information on DEI programs, including diversity fellowships, by April 15, 2025.
Two firms under investigation, Perkins Coie and Morrison & Foerster, have previously faced lawsuits over minority-only fellowships, raising questions about their practices.
The probe is part of a broader Trump administration effort to challenge DEI initiatives across sectors, with potential legal actions contingent on findings of civil rights violations.