LAWYERS FOR ONE AMERICA

Back to Homepage

American Bar Association
The ABA is conducting a wide array of activities in furtherance of the Lawyers For One America initiative. Several are part of the ABA's Diversity Initiative:

The Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund has been established to encourage racial and ethnic minority students to apply to law school by providing 3-year financial assistance.
The ABA Diversity Colloquium brought together leaders of the profession to discuss impediments to entering and achieving success in the legal profession by people of color. A Conference Binder is available to the profession.
The ABA Resource Guide was published in June, highlighting successful programs across the profession to improve diversity.
The Minority Legal Clerkship Extern Project was established, and has placed 22 law students of color in federal and state judicial chambers in Chicago. The ABA and the National Association of Law Placement have completed a joint study of minority law clerk participation, and are planning a Forum for the profession on this topic in mid-2001.

"Each Native American lawyer represents an important contribution to our profession. After all, it is the individual's achievement that collectively yields the richness and vibrancy of our increasingly diverse society."

William Paul
American Bar Association

In addition, the Commission on Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession and the Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice have sponsored a number of activities:

A national Summit on the retention of lawyers of color by law firms and corporate law departments brought together General Counsel from Fortune 500 corporations and managing and hiring partners from the 250 largest law firms in the country.
A biannual update of the report, Miles to Go: Progress of Minorities in the Legal Profession was published in July, with data about the status/progress of minority lawyers.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs have been developed that promote diversity.
Spirit of Excellence Awards are presented annually to lawyers who have made significant contributions toward promoting diversity and advancing lawyers of color.
The Minority Counsel Program, Conference of Minority Partners in Majority Firms, Minority In-House Counsel Group, the Multicultural Women Attorneys Network, and Regional Meetings for Minority Lawyers are all ongoing.
The National Conference On the Impact of Race and Ethnicity on the Justice System assembled a multi-disciplinary gathering of participants to find solutions to three key problems: Color/Racial Profiling, Consumer Access to the Justice System, and Inclusion in the Justice System. The Conference Report is available to the profession.

In the pro bono area, the ABA's Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service has a longstanding commitment to working with diversity bar associations to expand pro bono legal services. Working from the national and local perspectives, Committee volunteers and staff have spent much time getting to know the structure, issues and membership of these groups. By attending diversity bar meetings, involving diversity bar leaders in the Committee's activities, sharing information about the Committee's work, and sponsoring events at the Equal Justice Conference highlighting the pro bono efforts of diversity bars, the Committee has taken some important steps in its outreach to these groups. This has been particularly true with regard to the National Bar Association (NBA) and the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). In both instances, Committee outreach efforts have resulted in those organizations establishing permanent standing committees on pro bono matters and adopting resolutions encouraging their members to undertake pro bono activity.

Back to top

Association of the Bar of the City of New York
The Association has a long-standing commitment, through our committees and programs, of supporting equal rights and diversity. In addition, our affiliate ABCNY Fund, Inc. fosters many programs to provide equal access to legal services. As a response to the Call To Action, the Association's Executive Committee adopted the following "Statement of Policy Reaffirming the Association's Commitment to Diversity in the Profession":

The Association of the Bar of the City of New York has long been committed to fostering diversity in the legal profession. In response to the Call to Action by President Clinton last summer exhorting the bar to promote diversity, we deem it appropriate that the Association reaffirm its commitment to diversity and urge law firms, other legal employers, courts and law schools to do so as well. We emphasize that diversity is an inclusive concept, encompassing race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age, disability and marital and parental status. Through increased diversity, the legal profession can more effectively address societal and individual needs by bringing to bear more varied perspectives, experiences, knowledge, information and understanding in the practice of law and the administration of justice. Inclusion and full participation of all elements of society in law firms, government and corporate law departments, courts and law schools will better serve the ends of equal justice to which the legal profession is dedicated.

Recognizing the many initiatives in place at the Association, our response to the Call To Action has been to build on existing programs and initiate new programs. In order to ensure maximum impact, the Association called on its 180 committees to commit to respond to the challenge of the Call To Action. Dozens of committee chairs sent in commitments.

In addition to working with the various association committees, we reached out to other groups to partner with us to foster the goals of the Call To Action. The Association met with leaders of minority bars to develop joint programs. In addition, the Association's President joined the New York BusinessLinc Task Force, and we are working through that group to provide legal support complementing the diversity efforts of the New York business community.

Our multitude of efforts are divided into the following sections: Programs to increase diversity within the legal community; programs to increase access to legal services; pro bono & diversity training; position papers & policy debates fostering diversity & legal access. Please contact us to obtain more information and details about any of our programs, practices, and publications.

Back to top

Atlanta Bar Association
Resolution for Lawyers For One America

Whereas, the Atlanta Bar Association has a long history of supporting efforts to promote equal justice and diversity; and
Whereas, Lawyers For One America is a collaboration of lawyers and organizations in the legal profession committed to working together to insure both that the profession reflects the diversity of the society we serve and that the profession insures that minorities enjoy equal access to our system of justice; and
Whereas, the collaboration currently consists of senior officers and representatives of the American Bar Association, the American Corporate Counsel Association, the Association of American Law Schools, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the Columbus Bar Association, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Native American Bar Association, the Pro Bono Institute, the Conference of Chief Justices, and other lawyers from law firms, corporations, bar associations, civil rights organizations and law schools; and
Whereas, the collaboration developed out of a challenge to the legal profession made by President William J. Clinton at a White House event on July 20, 1999 to renew the profession's commitment to civil rights that grew out of the Call to Action made by President John F. Kennedy in the summer of 1963, and
Whereas, to achieve the mission, Lawyers For One America will collect and magnify the work of the lawyers and legal organizations participating in this effort so their coordinated efforts may be of exponential value and their stakeholders more informed and united in this effort. Also it will seek more active involvement from all sectors of the legal community by developing avenues of participation targeted to draw from their strengths. Finally it will survey, collect and disseminate information about best practices for enhancing diversity and pro bono work from the individuals and organizations that are making a difference and develop means that will allow other organizations to adopt those practices.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Atlanta Bar Association commends the organizations that are participating in the Lawyers For One America for their efforts to end discrimination and to promote diversity, and urges its members to support their mission.

Adopted this lst day of May, 2000.

Back to top

The Bar Association of San Francisco
"...Employers who have been most successful in attaining and maintaining some meaningful degree of racial diversity in their ranks are those who, with strong and visible leadership from the top, have engaged in a number of self-consciously conceived and targeted programs and efforts aimed at enhancing minority recruitment and retention. Even firms that have only recently begun to concentrate on turning around a historically poor record of minority hiring and retention have been able to make substantial gains once they have embarked upon aggressive, targeted diversity initiatives. Conversely, those employers that have continued to subscribe to a benign neglect, sink-or-swim, or 'color blind' paradigm with respect to racial diversity issues continue to have the worst statistics and most significant minority morale problems."

BASF 1999 Interim Report: Goals and Timetables for Minority Hiring and Advancement

"The firm prides itself on its lack of bureaucracy, but with no systems in place to hire and retain African Americans and Latinos, the bottom line question is, does diversity really matter to them? ... I see it getting worse because there is no recognition of diversity as a goal. The business plan focuses only on financial objectives, and, as such, takes away from the energy and concerted effort needed to recruit and retain a diverse attorney workplace."

Bar Association of San Francisco "1999 Interim Report"

The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) has long been an outspoken leader in efforts by the organized bar to achieve equal employment opportunity for minority attorneys. The highlight of the Association's diversity efforts has been adoption by over 100 legal profession employers of the "Minority Goals and Timetables", which are monitored annually and reported nationally every three years. Our new request for commitment has just gone out to law firms and legal departments. In 2005, the goals call for employer commitment to 35% minority associates/staff counsel, and 12% minority partners/senior counsel. (See Recommendation #12).

BASF has produced and distributed nationally "A Firm Commitment", a videotape to help legal employers identify and overcome obstacles to retention and advancement of minority lawyers. And the Association presents a wide variety of seminars and MCLE programs on diversity and business issues for all legal practioners and recruitment personnel. BASF also co-founded and houses the California Minority Counsel Program (See CMCP's Declaration of Action). It co-sponsors a tri-county First Year Minority Summer Clerkship Program. And the BASF Law Academy, a unique alliance formed between the Association and the San Francisco Unified School District, provides high school students with critical thinking skills, an understanding of substantive law and legal strategies for conflict resolution, mentoring and role models, an expanded sense of their own futures, and meaningful employment.

On the pro bono side, BASF's Volunteer Legal Services Program is the largest full-service provider of civil legal services in San Francisco. Its Community Organizations Representation Project assists community-based organizations with a full range of transactional needs, including: non-profit incorporation, for-profit incorporation, employment law, intellectual property, taxation, liability, real estate, leases, business contracts, financial law, reorganization, insurance law, zoning, etc. This allows firms to participate in the larger community and in the economic development of the city, and provides a unique opportunity for transactional attorneys to assist in community economic development, to develop relationships with organizations that help low-income communities, and to gain valuable transactional experience.

The Association has produced model programs, publications, videotapes, instructional materials, conferences, seminars, town hall meetings, and law firm/in-house/law school presentations. Topics include minority mentoring, hiring, retention, evaluation, assignment, marketing, affirmative action, and pro bono community services. BASF was a leader of the statewide coalition to defeat Proposition 209, and has raised and distributed over $700,000 in minority law student scholarships.

Please contact us for more information about the "Minority Goals and Timetables", and any of BASF's other programs and practices.

Back to top

California Minority Counsel Program
"Ethnic minorities comprise almost half of California's population, work force, and consumer markets. Although California is the most ethnically diverse state, minority attorneys continue to be underrepresented at the highest levels of the legal profession."

It was recognition of this fact that inspired creation of the California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) in 1989. CMCP strives to increase the opportunities available for minority attorneys to demonstrate the high quality of their work to corporations, law firms, and public agencies. Our program opens doors for talented attorneys whose expertise might otherwise go unnoticed. CMCP is the nation's most successful minority counsel program, currently numbering over 40 corporations, 100 majority firms, and 120 minority-owned firms as participants.

The ultimate goal of CMCP is a legal profession in which race and ethnic background are no longer factors impeding opportunities for advancement in the law. Our mission is to maximize professional opportunities for attorneys of color. We accomplish this mission in several ways, including corporate connections, business development, and strategic partnerships. CMCP hosts several conferences and continuing legal education seminars throughout the year, which provide networking opportunities and educational benefits for our members. We proudly showcase the talent of lawyers in minority law firms, majority firms, and corporate legal departments. And we offer a unique database of experienced minority attorneys on our website with links to member law firms, corporations, bar associations, and public agencies. Ours is the only on-line directory of minority lawyers searchable by area of practice.

Our work is not done. The numbers continue to reflect a lack of minority attorneys at senior levels in majority-owned law firms and corporate law departments. In addition, minority-owned law firms need our attention as they compete for corporate legal work in an often closed circle of pre-existing business relationships. CMCP continues to address the very important task of diversifying California's legal profession. We move into our second decade as the premier organization for minority lawyers in the California corporate world knowing that embracing diversity makes a world of difference in serving our clients' needs.

Back to top

Coalition of Bar Associations of Color
Resolution in Support of Continuing the Work of Lawyers For One America

Whereas, the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color consists of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Native American Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association; and

Whereas, the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color is dedicated to the provision of equal justice and equal opportunity for all people in this country regardless of race, ethnicity or economic status; and

Whereas, the missions of the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color have been and will continue to include promoting diversity within the legal profession and expanding access to legal resources for people of color; and

Whereas, President William Jefferson Clinton made a Call to Action to the organized bar to promote diversity in the legal profession and foster equal opportunities through the provision of pro bono legal services to communities of color; and

Whereas, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Native American Bar Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association were major participants in the planning process of this Call to Action, and in the creation of Lawyers For One America which arose out of that Call to Action; and

Whereas, Lawyers For One America is a confederation of bar associations, law firms, civil rights organizations, law schools and corporations which is slated to sunset during the year 2000;

Therefore be it resolved, that the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color, and its constituent organizations call upon the members of Lawyers For One America to continue the existence of the confederation beyond the year 2000 to work with the Coalition of Bar Associations of Color to ensure that corporations, law firms, government entities, bar associations and educational institutions work to eradicate the racial and ethnic divide and work to achieve true equality among the races in America.

Adopted this 16th day of June, 2000.

Laura K. Hong
President, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

Kirke Kickingbird
President, Native American Bar Association

Harold Pope
President, National Bar Association

Alice Valezquez
President, Hispanic National Bar Association

Back to top

Columbus Bar Association
The Board of Governors of the Columbus Bar Association has included diversity as a top priority in its Strategic Plan for 2000-2005. Specifically, the plan's first theme is to: build a more inclusive bar association, improve diversity among leadership, remove obstacles for participation, and establish stronger relationships with other associations. This goal will be achieved through detailed plans for recruitment, hiring, retention and promotion. Other innovative diversity programs include:

The CBA Minority Clerkship Program promotes diversity in the legal profession by providing 36 minority law students an opportunity to gain valuable exposure to various aspects of the legal profession. The Summer Leadership Intern Program (SLIP) mission is to create summer employment for Columbus City public high school students in law firms and other law-related agencies; to provide them an opportunity to learn more about the business world and the legal system. Participants benefit from professional interaction through their work experience, educational seminars, attendance at legislative sessions and participation in a mock trial.

The Managing Partners' Retreat, brings together managing partners from the largest law firms in Columbus to critically assess existing diversity programs, develop ideas for further efforts to increase minority representation in the legal profession, and obtain consensus and commitment to undertake additional efforts to increase diversity in the Columbus community. The Ohio Commission on Racial Fairness recently issued a report outlining its findings and conclusions with respect to minorities' perceptions and realities about the justice system. CBA organized a task force to consider the role of local bar associations in implementing the Report's recommendations.

The Columbus Bar Association has many pro bono programs, including the Professional Partners Project, where "action teams" of volunteer experts from the legal, banking and accounting professions are assigned to eligible businesses. The teams develop and execute action plans for the businesses at no cost. The program also includes community education legal clinics, open to the general minority business community, which address business-related issues including the legal aspects of government contracts.

The CBA also sponsors the People's Law School, an eight-week community education program to provide the public an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the law. The faculty for this program consists of local attorneys, judges, and Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio. And the CBA's Eldercare Project helps seniors who need legal services such as will preparation, durable powers of attorney for health care, and general powers of attorney. Volunteer attorneys meet clients at local nursing homes and recreational facilities. Outreach and education is conducted through social service agencies. The Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation is a major partner for this program.

Back to top

Hispanic National Bar Association
The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is a national association representing the interests of Hispanic American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students in the United States and Puerto Rico. The HNBA collaborates with local Hispanic Bars in over 100 cities. The primary objectives of the HNBA are to increase professional opportunities for Hispanics in the legal profession, and address issues of concern to the national Hispanic community. Legal education, civil rights, judicial appointments, and political representation have been fundamental concerns of the HNBA from its inception. Its current goals include:

Promoting equal justice and opportunity for all Hispanics
Educating the Hispanic community about relevant legal issues and about its legal rights and responsibilities
Promoting the professional development of Hispanic lawyers and law students
Encouraging Hispanics to enter the legal profession
Promoting the appointment of Hispanics to leadership positions in federal, state and local governments, and
Promoting the appointment of Hispanic judges

Through its related charitable organization, The Hispanic National Bar Fund, Inc., HNBA awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving Hispanic law students, and has significantly contributed to the development of our nation's future leaders.

Back to top

Massachusetts Bar Association
The Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) has a long history of programs designed to both serve minority communities in the Commonwealth, and to increase diversity within the bar itself:

Law Students: "Study Skills for Success" invites all students of color entering Massachusetts law schools to participate. It begins with a welcoming reception with bar leaders, prominent attorneys and judges of color from the Commonwealth. This is followed by a program on study skills for law school, including how to organize work and what to expect. Later sessions are held to assist students in exam taking. All participants in the program are given a free membership in the MBA.

Lawyers of Color: The MBA seeks to encourage lawyers of color to participate in their minority bar associations, and to coordinate activities with those associations. To that end, the major minority bar associations are given seats in the MBA House of Delegates. Lawyers of color are also encouraged and supported in seeking leadership positions within the MBA.

Youth/Legal Careers: Our legal newspaper for kids, "It's Your Law," is designed to be used as part of social studies curriculum in middle schools. It includes an article that encourages students to debate a current legal issue, called "You be the Judge." Many students take the newspapers home to discuss with their parents and families. English as a Second Language teachers use the newspapers to teach adult newcomers, because it combines English skills with important topics that immigrants need to know about living in the Commonwealth, and the U.S.

The MBA also sponsors and administers the mock trial program for high school students. Many students have told us that participation has changed their lives and given them a greater sense of options available for their future. Boston English High School, a school that has a predominantly African American student body, is a frequent winner of the tournament.

Immigration: The MBA has published a book called Ensuring Equal Justice, designed to teach lawyers, judges and court personnel about cultural and linguistic differences that can prevent people from receiving equal justice and a fair outcome. It discusses case law and statutes designed to protect people who do not speak English, and provides cultural and economic information about the countries from which most newcomers to Massachusetts come. The MBA gave copies of this book to all members of the judiciary, and held a training session for judges, supported by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, who suspended all court sessions for the day so the judges could attend.

The MBA also publishes a "Newcomers Guide" for recent immigrants to Massachusetts. In four languages, it teaches newcomers about their rights and responsibilities in Massachusetts, and addresses such issues as right to work, renting or buying a home, credit, driving permits, etc.

Pro Bono: The MBA's public service and outreach activities are targeted to minority organizations and communities. These programs include Dial-A-Lawyer, a monthly call-in program that allows callers to ask lawyers general questions free of charge. We also operate a reduced fee panel on our Lawyer Referral Service, and all participants on our ADR Referral Service agree to at least one pro bono case per year as a condition of participation. Our Elder Law Program focuses on senior centers in urban areas and in rural farm areas to reach the poor elderly, many of whom are people of color. Our Tel-Law tapes, which are recorded in English and Spanish, are now being converted to CDs, and copies will be placed in public libraries throughout the State.

Back to top

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
NAPABA is the National Association of Asian Pacific American (APA) lawyers, judges, law professors and law students. It strives to be a national network for its members and affiliates. NAPABA advocates for the legal needs and interests of the Asian Pacific American legal community. NAPABA represents over 10,000 lawyers in more than thirty-five local APA bar associations, whose practice settings range from solo practices to large firms, corporations, legal services organizations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Through its network of committees, NAPABA is at the forefront of national and local activities in the areas of civil rights reform, combating anti-immigrant backlash and hate crimes, increasing the diversity of the Federal and state judiciaries, and professional development.

The NAPABA Law Foundation, a non-profit, charitable and educational affiliate of NAPABA, has taken on projects such as:
Awarding national legal scholarships and public service fellowships aimed at serving the APA community
Educating the legal profession regarding the needs of APAs, particularly of recent immigrants, crime victims, and the poor
Assisting and educating the APA community regarding legal rights and resources
Sponsoring the Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition
Providing a national network and clearinghouse of information and materials to assist pro bono activities of APA attorneys

Back to top

The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
"The Asian American community has experienced an extraordinary population growth, having doubled in size in each decade between 1970 and 1990, with an estimated growth of 7 million to 12 million between 1990 and 2000. The legal community has not kept pace. Little infrastructure exists to meet the civil legal needs of the Asian American community in most areas of the country."

The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium works to advance the legal and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans through litigation, public education and public policy. A nationally recognized voice on behalf of Asian Pacific Americans, the Consortium focuses its expertise on anti-Asian violence and race relations, voting rights, immigration and immigrant rights, affirmative action, language rights and the census. The Consortium was founded by, and is affiliated with, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California in Los Angeles, Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York City. Working closely with its Affiliates, the Consortium is committed to increasing community education and participation on public policy and civil rights issues affecting all Asian Pacific Americans.

Through its leadership capacity-building program, the Consortium develops and maintains relationships with local community-based organizations through which it delivers technical assistance on projects ranging from anti-Asian violence to immigration, naturalization and welfare reform. This assistance includes training on advocacy, working with the media, working with government agencies, building coalitions, monitoring hate crimes, and explaining important new laws.

It has also launched a project to increase effective legal access by the Asian American community by implementing strategies to leverage existing resources and to increase community capacity. The goals include improving the Asian American community's understanding of the role of lawyers in ensuring access to justice; increasing the level of resources being provided to ensure access, particularly to the low income segment of the community; and institutionalizing networks where information, strategy and materials can be more effectively shared among those working to serve the Asian American community.

And, in May of 2000, it published "The Search for Equal Access To Justice: Asian American Access To Justice Project Report", detailing the barriers Asian Americans face in accessing justice, recommendations for opening access and providing resources, and models for increasing access to legal services.

Back to top

"The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

National Bar Association
The purpose of the National Bar Association is "to advance the science of jurisprudence, uphold the honor of the legal profession, promote social intercourse among the members of the bar, and protect the civil and political rights of all citizens of the several states of the United States." In support of this goal, NBA has concerned itself with a wide range of projects, including:

Providing legal assistance to elderly Black Americans through the NBA Black Elderly Legal Assistance Support Project (BELASP). BELASP conducts programs aimed at improving the Black elderly's access to legal assistance and provides training and CLE seminars, including "Saving the Home and Defending Against Fraud and Scams"
Conducting an annual Commercial Law Section Corporate Counsel Conference to showcase the expertise and talents of NBA member attorneys
Establishing communications with key corporations to generate retainers for minority law firms
Promoting minority business enterprise and development through advocacy, technical assistance, and educational programs
Awarding four-year NBA/Carleton College Scholarships to deserving African American students
Establishing the National Bar Institute, the Educational Foundation of the NBA, and supporting deserving law students and law student programs which enhance the quality of legal education

When the NBA was organized in 1925, there were fewer than 1,000 African American lawyers in the nation, and fewer than 120 belonged to the Association. By 1945, there were nearly 250 members, representing 25% of the African American members of the bar. Over the past 75 years, the NBA has grown enormously in size and influence. At present, the NBA is the nation's oldest and largest national association of predominately African American lawyers and judges. It has eighty-seven affiliate chapters throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Africa and the Caribbean, and represents a professional network of over 17,000 lawyers, judges, educators and law students.

Back to top

Native American Bar Association
The Native American Bar Association (NABA) was founded to encourage Native Americans to enter the legal profession, to assist tribal governments in achieving their political goals, to provide educational and networking opportunities to its membership, and to assist newly admitted Native American lawyers in the development of their law practices. NABA is totally committed to the President's Call to Action and to the Lawyers For One America initiative. Its goal is to seek to do what it can within its resources, as well as to expand those resources both to do more in the coming year, and to build a strong organization to fight for Indian rights into the next millennium. In support of Lawyers For One America (LFOA) and in response to President Clinton's Call to the bar to promote diversity in the legal community and to fight racial injustice, NABA will pursue several items in the coming year:

Strengthening NABA NABA will engage in an effort to expand its resources. In this effort, NABA welcomes support and assistance from any of the other members of the LFOA coalition. Specific steps will include a membership drive, creation of alliances with other organizations in the LFOA coalition to assist them in identifying Indian country projects and issues upon which to focus, and expansion of fundraising efforts.
Mentoring Program NABA will continue to develop its active mentoring program, which links American Indian law students with practicing attorneys. NABA believes that it is necessary to reach even earlier in the academic realm to develop mentoring programs among Native American high school and college students to develop their interest in the legal profession at the earliest date.
Employment Opportunities NABA will develop or otherwise post to an appropriate website information on Native American law students and lawyers in search of employment, as well as employment opportunities of interest to Native American lawyers and law students.
Pro Bono Opportunities NABA will identify pro bono opportunities in Indian country for lawyers seeking to work in this area.
Scholarships NABA will increase efforts to raise funds for Native American students going to law school. It will work for increased funding for the American Indian Law Center's Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI). PLSI simulates the first year of law school in eight weeks, and has served as a critically important first step in the legal careers of many Native American lawyers.
Educational outreach to Native American communities Native communities are oftentimes unaware of their rights under the law and/or the developments in the law. NABA will endeavor to expand awareness in Indian communities of individual rights. NABA has received commitments from the American Indian Report, the only national news magazine dedicated to Indian issues, and the Native American Law Digest, the only monthly Indian law journal, to publish articles on LFOA and NABA's initiatives as a part of promoting the goals of the Initiative.
Conferences Over the next year, NABA will be involved in two conferences. NABA is a co-sponsor of the Indian law conference to be held in Washington, D.C. in November, 2000. Additionally, NABA holds its annual membership meeting in conjunction with the Federal Bar Association's Indian law conference every spring in Albuquerque. This has historically been the largest Indian law conference in the country and also presents a great opportunity to promote the LFOA initiative.

Back to top

Navajo Nation Bar Association
The Navajo Nation Bar Association (NNBA) is the largest bar association directly serving an Indian nation. Currently, our unique membership totals over 400, including regular status, inactive status, and judicial status members. The NNBA's foundation is the Tribal Court Advocates, who are Navajo individuals, non-law school trained, authorized by the Navajo Supreme Court to practice in the courts of the Navajo Nation. Additionally, the NNBA admits attorneys who are licensed by and in good standing with the surrounding states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

The NNBA supports the goals of Lawyers For One America to create a legal community which reflects the diversity of American society, and which provides full services to all communities, including communities of color. In coordination with the Native American Bar Association, the NNBA is undertaking the following activities:

Presentations: NNBA members will be speaking in Indian reservation high schools, tribal colleges, and other educational institutions, on becoming a lawyer and on the practice of law
Law School Materials Development: NNBA members will be working with the Native American Bar Association in the development of legal materials on Indian law for use in mainstream law school classes and tribal court advocacy programs
Mentorship: NNBA members will continue and expand efforts to provide mentorship opportunities to Native American students interested in the practice of law
Pro Bono Activities: The NNBA requires its members to provide pro bono activities to the Navajo Nation community, and
Conference Outreach: The NNBA uses its annual conference to provide education and outreach to Native American lawyers, as well as others practicing before the Navajo Courts, and within the Navajo Nation, to support their professional development

Back to top

State Bar of Georgia

Diversity is the key word now and in the future. Diversity could be defined as a collaboration of differing parts, views, backgrounds comprised of multicultural persons working together to achieve progress and become whole; essentially one. This definition of diversity might become obsolete with the passage of time."

Violet Travis Ricks
Diversity Program of the State Bar of Georgia

Resolution In Support of Lawyers For One America's Mission

Whereas, the State Bar of Georgia has a long history of supporting efforts to promote equal justice and diversity; and
Whereas, Lawyers For One America is a collaboration of lawyers and organizations in the legal profession committed to working together to insure both that the profession reflects the diversity of the society we serve and that the profession insures that minorities enjoy equal access to our system of justice: and
Whereas, the collaboration currently consists of senior officers and representatives of the American Bar Association, the American Corporate Counsel Association, the Association of American Law Schools, the Association of the Bar of the City of New. York, the Columbus Bar Association, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights under the Law, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Native American Bar Association, the Pro Bono Institute, the Conference of Chief Justices, and other lawyers from law firms, corporations, bar associations, civil rights organizations and law schools; and H Whereas, the collaboration developed out of a challenge to the legal profession made by President William J. Clinton at a White House event on July 20, 1999 to renew the profession's commitment to civil rights that grew out of the Call to Action made by President John F. Kennedy in the summer of 1963; and
Whereas, to achieve the mission. Lawyers For One America will collect and magnify the work of the lawyers and legal organizations participating in this effort so their coordinated efforts may be of exponential value and their stakeholders more informed and united in this effort. Also it will seek more active involvement from all sectors of the legal community by developing avenues of participation targeted to draw from their strengths. Finally it will survey, collect and disseminate information about best practices for enhancing diversity and pro bono work from the individuals and organizations that are making a difference and develop means that will allow other organizations to adopt those practices.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the State Bar of Georgia commends the organizations that are participating in the Lawyers For One America for their efforts to end discrimination and to promote diversity, and urges its members to support their mission.

Adopted this 7th day of April, 2000.

In addition to the Resolution in support of LFOA, the State Bar of Georgia has initiated numerous Diversity projects since the President's Call To Action, including: Corporate Counsel discussions with minority attorneys about the criteria for selection of outside counsel; an Annual CLE Conference discussing marketing practices, especially for attorneys of color; a Law Day event highlighting the importance of diversity in the legal community, and the steps necessary to increase diversity; and an annual Scholarship Breakfast, highlighting Diversity in Dekalb (Georgia). The State Bar also has many ongoing projects promoting diversity, including the Small Practice Development Center, which assists minority attorneys with start-up practice loans, a committee advising majority law firms regarding initial hiring of minority attorneys, and a quarterly newsletter addressing diversity issues.

Back to top

State Bar of Texas
The State Bar of Texas administers an effective and growing minority counsel program on a statewide basis. The Texas Minority Counsel Program seeks to expand and increase opportunities for minority and women attorneys who provide legal services for corporate and government clients, and to expose organizations seeking outside counsel to the virtually untapped legal talent found in the minority and women lawyer community. In addition, the Program offers the Committee and Speaker Access Program, designed to educate and involve minority and women lawyers in the State Bar process; a Directory of Minority and Women's Bar Associations; the Texas Spectrum, a biannual newsletter on minority lawyer issues; the Minority Leadership meeting, and an Annual Report on the Status of Racial/Ethnic Minorities in the State Bar of Texas.

Our 1997 Symposium for Excellence in the Profession set the stage for a statewide dialogue on the importance of diversity and inclusion efforts by educational institutions, legal employers, and bar associations in the post-Hopwood environment. The Bar's goals and timetables have greatly influenced the hiring and retention practices of medium and large firms in Texas.

Recently the Bar has supported state legislative initiatives that foster diversity in law schools, including the successful passage of a scholarship matching program, enabling law schools to match scholarships offered by out-of-state schools to encourage Texas graduates to stay in-state.

Back to top