...[A] staff attorney position at Covington & Burling...[was a] great opportunity...to experience the race/power dynamic firsthand... Staff attorneys are non-partner track lawyers who handle the menial legal tasks...that [partner-track] associates shun... The base pay and bonus structure is half that of a 25 year old first year associate's. Blacks at Covington comprise less than 5% of the Washington office's partners and associates, but make up 30% of its staff attorneys... Covington began stockpiling its staff attorney ghetto with blacks and other minorities in 2005, shortly after the General Council of some of the country's largest companies joined Roderick A. Palmore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Sara Lee in taking a tougher stance on law firm diversity... The vast majority of Covington's black attorneys do no substantive work, have no control over their case assignments and no opportunity for advancement.