Legal
Services
NYC
has
quietly
scrubbed
references
to
its
diversity,
equity,
inclusion,
and
belonging
commitments
from
its
public-facing
website.
The
move,
announced
internally
via
email
on
Tuesday,
marks
the
latest
in
a
growing
line
of
DEI
retreats
across
the
legal
industry.
But
this
time,
it’s
not
Biglaw
chickening
out,
it’s
a
nonprofit
built
to
serve
communities
marginalized
by
the
very
discrimination
it
now
feels
compelled
to
tiptoe
around.
“We
know
this
does
not
feel
good,
but
we
are
not
retreating.
We
are
trying
to
survive,”
the
email
assures.
The
message,
signed
by
LSNYC’s
DEIB
Working
Group,
explained
that
they
made
the
“hard
but
strategic
decision”
after
conversations
with
“DEIB
experts,
legal
orgs,
and
legal
consultants
and
with
warnings
from
LSC
president
Ron
Flagg
about
threats
to
our
funding.”
The
last
point
rings
ominously
as
Flagg
met
with
the
incel
brigade
over
at
DOGE
on
Monday,
suggesting
a
direct
political
threat
to
the
nation’s
capacity
to
provide
legal
services
for
clients
in
need
from
Big
Balls
or
whichever
serious
professional
runs
that
outfit
these
days.
LSNYC
receives
roughly
15
percent
of
its
funding
from
LSC.
Biglaw
collaborators
deserve
every
bit
of
scorn
and
derision,
both
in
public
opinion
and
when
it
comes
to
their
bottom
line,
but
legal
services
for
the
poor
don’t
have
the
same
advantages
as
a
billion
dollar
(or
more)
law
firm.
An
organization
struggling
to
help
as
many
people
as
possible
on
a
meager
budget
can’t
easily
redirect
resources
to
fighting
the
federal
government
over
its
website.
Leadership
clearly
felt
that
embracing
some
invisibility
might
offer
safety.
It
won’t.
The
lesson
of
the
last
couple
weeks
is
that
this
administration
saves
its
most
brutal
kicks
for
those
who
try
to
make
peace.
Columbia
gave
the
administration
everything
it
wanted
and
it’s
getting
another
shot
to
the
genitals.
The
Supreme
Court
gave
Trump
a
path
to
save
face
on
deportations
and
he
opted
to
ignore
their
9-0
order.
And
now
all
the
Biglaw
firms
that
thought
they’d
bought
respite
in
exchange
for
some
veterans’
charities
work
are
about
to
get
“assigned”
work
as
Trump
administration
deputies.
Who
could’ve
predicted
except…
us
and
anyone
who
has
ever
watched
Star
Wars.
For
the
sake
of
LSNYC
and
the
population
it
serves,
hopefully
this
gets
the
administration
off
their
back
and
their
federal
funding
continues
uninterrupted.
But
it
won’t.
Whether
the
administration
decides
to
make
the
fight
about
immigration
counseling
or
their
LGBTQ+
rights
work
or
just
write
it
off
as
a
simple
DOGE
cost-cutting
move,
this
White
House
is
going
to
screw
with
their
funding.
It’s
just
extra
sad
to
see
here
at
an
institution
where
diversity
feels
especially
core
to
its
mission.
Not
that
diversity
isn’t
important
in
all
sectors
of
the
legal
industry,
but
when
the
work
is
helping
clients
confront
legal
systems
shaped
by
inequality,
shying
from
the
word
“diversity”
takes
on
a
measure
of
self-erasure.
The
communities
LSNYC
serves
don’t
get
to
remove
themselves
from
the
conversation
about
race,
identity,
or
inclusion.
That’s
not
an
option
for
them.
It’s
tragic
that
the
lawyers
who
serve
them
are
put
in
this
position.
Joe
Patrice is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
Feel
free
to email
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments.
Follow
him
on Twitter or
Bluesky
if
you’re
interested
in
law,
politics,
and
a
healthy
dose
of
college
sports
news.
Joe
also
serves
as
a
Managing
Director
at
RPN
Executive
Search.