ABA CENTER FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY

Welcome!

Welcome to the ABA Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity established by the ABA Board of Governors to coordinate and enhance the ABA’s diversity efforts. The Center is comprised of three racial and ethnic diversity entities (Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice and the Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity). Through the efforts of these groups, the ABA will address the issue of diversity with a three-pronged approach: pipeline issues, legal profession issues and social justice issues. With this approach, we are confident that the ABA will continue to move forward on diversity issues.

Paula J. Frederick, Chair,
ABA Center for Racial and
Ethnic Diversity

More Information About the ABA's Main Diversity Entities

Pipeline
Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession (ACD)

ACD's mission is to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of attorneys admitted into the bar by focusing on educational pipeline issues. It offers programs and services on areas such as law school admission, bar passage and disparities in K-20 education.

Legal Profession
Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession

The Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession through its work and programs is the catalyst for creating leadership and economic opportunities for racially and ethnically diverse lawyers within the ABA and the legal profession.

Justice System
Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice

The Council develops partnerships utilizing programs and services between community groups, civil rights organizations, businesses, religious organizations and bar associations to eliminate racial and ethnic bias in the justice system. Its focus is on social justice issues.

Diversity News

Quick Facts

At $509 billion in 2008, the U.S. Asian market outshines the entire economies of all but 17 countries.

College graduation rates for African Americans have risen dramatically. African Americans received 4.2 million degrees (bachelor’s and advanced) in 2007, a 110% jump from 1990.

Largest Hispanic Consumer Markets

New Mexico	Nevada
Texas	Colorado
California	New York
Arizona	New Jersy
Florida	Illinois

Native Americans comprise only 1 percent of the country’s population yet control $61.8 billion in disposable income.

Source: Humphreys, J.M. (2008, Third Quarter). The Multicultural Economy 2008. Georgia Business and Economic Conditions, 68(3). Retrieved April 7, 2009 from http://media.terry.uga.edu/documents/selig/executive_summary_2008.pdf

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2009 Midyear Highlights

Presented by the following ABA Entities:

Council on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Co-Sponsor
The Assumption of Justice: A Dialogue on Color, Ethnicity and the Courts

Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity
Judicial Clerkship Program

Photo Gallery of ABA Midyear Meeting Programs including:

CLICK FOR ACCESS TO MIDYEAR PHOTO GALLERY

ABA Presidential Diversity Summit

"The State of Diversity in the Legal Profession"
Purpose: To conduct a National Summit for leaders from all segments of the legal profession to examine the State of Diversity in the Legal Profession. Where are we after three decades of addressing this issue, and what’s next?

Regional Hearing Midwest Regional Hearing. Columbus, Ohio. April 16, 2009 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Coordinated with the Ohio State Bar Association.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. COMPLETE A SURVEY NOW. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED WITH THE DIVERSITY SUMMIT CLICK HERE

NEW! Diversity Collection - get your copy NOW!

This first edition of The Diversity Collection highlights a sampling of diversity-related articles published in recent years by ABA groups. These articles explore racial and ethnic diversity issues in the legal profession, educational pipeline and social justice systems. GET YOUR FREE COPY HERE->

Diversity Spotlight

The Fellows Program of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section was designed to increase the participation of young lawyers in Section activities. The goal of the program is to give young lawyers an opportunity to become involved in the substantive work of the RPTE Section, while developing into future leaders. The Fellows gain a considerable amount of knowledge about the work of the Section, as well as the real property, trust and estate law practice.

The Fellowship appointment is for two years. To be considered for selection, a person (1) must have practiced in the trusts and estates or real property area for at least one year (and be younger than 36 years of age or have been admitted to the bar less than 10 years) and (2) should have demonstrated leadership at the state or local bar level or in the Young Lawyers Division of the ABA. As part of the Section’s commitment to diversity, one half of the Fellows selected will be minority applicants. Each Fellow will receive an expense reimbursement budget and invitations to certain leadership events.

For a full description of the roles and responsibilities of a Fellow, please visit www.abanet.org/rpte/fellows. Applications are due by June 19, 2009. Fellows will be notified of their appointment by early July. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Hugh Drake at 217.544.8491 or by e-mail at hdrake@bhslaw.com.

Fellowship Program Package

Diversity Quick Reading

The Greenlining Institute publishes an Annual Report on Diversity in the Legal Profession. The 2008 report analyzes the diversity at fifteen of California largest law firms at both the associate and partnership levels.

Diversity Throughout the ABA

ABA Diversity Policies - ABA House of Delegates recent policies related to Racial & Ethnic Diversity issues
Diversity Roadmap - snapshot of what ABA entities are doing for diversity
ABA Diversity Coordinating Group contact list - A group of ABA diversity-dedicated staff that share information, discuss common issues and stay abreast of diversity matters in the legal profession.

Student Resources

Diversity Scholarship Applications Now Available! Deadline is June 19.

Baker Donelson is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where the individual differences among us are understood, respected, appreciated and recognized as sources of strength of the Firm. These qualities enrich the environment in which we work. With this in mind, Baker Donelson will again award three scholarships to diverse law students this year. Each recipient will be awarded $10,000 which will be paid during the student's third year of law school to help defray the cost of law school tuition and related expenses. Additionally, recipients will be awarded a six-week, salaried 2L Summer Associate position in one of our following offices: Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA; Jackson, MS; or Chattanooga, Johnson City, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville, TN.

For complete eligibility criteria, instructions and to apply for the Scholarship Program please visit: www.bakerdonelson.com/diversityscholarship
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Helen Beasley at hbeasley@bakerdonelson.com

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Links to National Minority Bar Associations

Hispanic National Bar Association

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

National Bar Association of African American Attorneys

National Native American Bar Association

Please feel free to contact us if you would like to contribute additional materials or report a broken link.