FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2002 WWW.USDOJ.GOV AG (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General John Ashcroft and Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson announced that the Department of Justice has awarded a contract to the firm of KPMG Consulting, partnering with Taylor Cox Associates, to conduct an analysis of diversity in the Departments attorney workforce. The analysis will concentrate on the policies and practices of the Justice Department with respect to the recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion of a diverse attorney workforce, with respect to race, sex, and national origin. The KPMG Consulting-Taylor Cox team will identify any problems that exist with respect to the Departments policies and practices regarding diversity and make recommendations for improvement.
We are committed to maintaining a qualified and diverse work force to enhance the integrity and performance of the Justice Department, said Ashcroft. Diversity in the administration of justice is vital to the faith and trust the American people have in their legal system. The success of the Justice Departments mission depends on public confidence in the ability of the Department to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, added Thompson. To maintain that trust, the Department must build and retain an attorney work force that, in addition to a demonstrated commitment to excellence, appropriately reflects the diversity of our society. The study was commissioned by the Strategic Management Council, a board of senior Justice Department officials chaired by Deputy Attorney General Thompson, which was established in May 2001 to provide direction and leadership on a wide range of Department matters. The selection of KPMG Consulting - Taylor Cox resulted from a competition conducted under the General Services Administrations (GSA) Management, Organizational, and Business Improvement Services (MOBIS) Schedule, which has proven invaluable in allowing federal managers to quickly access a broad range of experienced management consulting firms. The KPMG Consulting - Taylor Cox team was selected on the strength of its corporate experience, proposed technical approach, and ability to assemble an experienced consulting team.
The study will focus on the Department of Justice components with the highest number of attorneys. These components are the six Litigating Divisions (Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Criminal, Tax, and Environment and Natural Resources); the United States Attorneys Offices; the Immigration and Naturalization Service; the Executive Office for Immigration Review; the United States Trustees; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The KPMG Consulting - Taylor Cox team will conduct interviews with each of those components as well as with interest groups and stakeholders such as the American Bar Association; the National Bar Association; minority bar associations, and minority employee organizations at the Justice Department.
Based on its analysis, the KPMG Consulting - Taylor Cox team will develop a strategy for improving diversity in the DOJ attorney workforce over the next 2 years. The strategy will contain interim goals, reporting mechanisms, and methods to monitor progress and implement any corrective actions. Final results of the study are expected in the spring of 2002. 02-015
Source: US Department of Justice
