According to an online poll of by the Association of Corporate Counsel, when asked about the impact a firm’s diversity policy has on their decision making process, 16.5 per cent of GCs said the policy was ‘extremely important’, 18.7 per cent said ‘very important’, and 15.6 per cent said ‘important’.
The remaining 49 per cent indicated that they do not consider diversity in their decision-making process.

Not a buzzword

According to a report in the Canadian Lawyer magazine, the association did not reveal how many GCs took part in the poll. But David Allgood -- executive vice president and general counsel of Royal Bank of Canada, and treasurer of ACC’s global board of directors – commented that the results ‘suggest one in two Canadian in-house counsel are now considering diversity and inclusion [as a] factor when hiring outside law firms. It is a start, but we need to continue to push hard for more progress’.
Mr Allgood added: ‘Diversity is not just a buzzword. Whether you are talking about a law firm or a legal department, a range of perspectives and experiences makes for a richer environment that helps foster innovative thinking.’