Forty-four percent of women of color working as an attorney in a large law firm say that they have been passed over for desirable assignments, compared with 39 percent of white women, 25 percent of men of color, and 2 percent of white men, according to a study by the American Bar Association.

Sixty-two percent of women of color reported that they had been excluded from formal and informal networking opportunities, compared with 60 percent of white women, 31 percent of men of color, and 4 percent of white men. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of women of color reported receiving at least one unfair performance evaluation, compared to 25 percent of white women, 21 percent of men of color, and less than 1 percent of white men.

The ABA says women of color are leaving the profession at an alarming rate. In addition to being passed over for desirable assignments and receiving unfair performance evaulations, and having a lack of networking opportunities, women of color cite a lack of access to significant billable hours and being subjected to demeaning comments or harassment at law firms.

"This study finally sheds light on a troublesome situation that we must now turn into an opportunity--the opportunity to increase the richness of perspectives in law firms," says Michael S. Greco, president of the ABA . "The legal profession must better reflect the communities we serve if it is to serve better both today's clients and those communities. I encourage legal employers to use this valuable report to recalibrate their strategies for diversifying the profession."

The study, "Visible Invisibility: Women of Color in Law Firms," is available online at www.ababooks.org.