Given the Commission’s mission, providing services to external bar organizations represents a critical part of its efforts. For these organizations, the Commission works closely to coordinate its efforts with ABA Bar Services Division.

The Commission frequently receives queries from state and local bar associations across the country -- and from those in the United Kingdom since the ABA held its Annual Meeting in London (August, 2000) -- to provide guidance, information, and expertise on diversity issues. These range from questions about how to recruit and retain minority members; guidance on diversity programming and strategies; and requests for information about diversity issues.

The Commission developed the Bar Leadership Institute Diversity Efforts Checklist and Diversity Speakers List to address some of the more frequently addressed needs that are raised by state and local bar associations.

The Commission is frequently invited to do joint programming with or provide consultation to state and local bar associations such as the Chicago Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, the Minnesota Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar, the State Bar of California, the State Bar of Georgia, the Rhode Island Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

The Commission works closely with the four national minority bar associations that comprise the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color:

• National Bar Association (NBA)
• Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA)
• Native American Bar Association (NABA)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)

The Commission also works with the National Association of Muslim Lawyers and the North American South Asian Bar Association.

The Commission offers a variety of services to these organizations, including:

• Serving as a “safe” place within the ABA where they and their members can ask questions about the ABA and seek guidance about the best ways to become active within the ABA;
• Facilitating assistance from the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education in securing CLE credits for programs at their national conventions;
• Coordinating co-sponsorship opportunities with ABA Sections;
• Facilitating participation in ABA Annual and Midyear meetings for their leaders; and,
• Maintaining a list serve for their chapters and affiliates.

As the Commission travels around the country for different meetings and programs, it makes an effort to meet with the leaders of local minority bar associations. The Commission uses these meetings to learn about their particular needs, interests, and concerns, and to educate them about the benefits of getting involved with the ABA.

The Commission is frequently asked to facilitate these bar associations’ interaction with various ABA entities such as the Center for Continuing Legal Education, the Center for Pro Bono, and the Center for Professional Responsibility as well as mainstream state and local bar associations. These bar associations rely on the Commission to keep them apprised of larger professional concerns, such as the debates on multidisciplinary practice, multi-jurisdictional practice, and Ethics 2000. The Commission uses its relationships with these bar associations to identify minority lawyers to recruit for Sections, Divisions, and Forums and for the ABA in general, while simultaneously keeping these lawyers apprised about the benefits and opportunities for participation and involvement in the broader profession through the ABA.

The Commission is frequently solicited for guidance and assistance by law schools and minority law students on diversity-related issues. These requests range from recommendations for speakers, diversity consultants, and potential faculty, to direction on the development of mentoring, job placement, and school diversity programs. The Commission has also been asked to facilitate interaction between law schools or minority law student groups and local minority lawyers and bar associations. The Commission continues to receive increasing numbers of requests for guidance and consultation on diversity issues and programming from corporations, law firms, and civic groups.