REUTERS — Large law firms collectively increased their hiring of diverse summer associates in recent years but struggled to retain those lawyers over time, according to a new report by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association. Based on lawyer demographic data submitted by 225 large law firms, it found that 36% of 2020’s summer associates – law students who spend a summer working at a firm and typically receive job offers afterward – were from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, up from 28% a decade ago. But that percentage decreased as seniority level increased: Minorities accounted for nearly 28% of all associates; 12.5% of non-equity partners; and just over 10% of equity partners in 2020.