Spirit of Excellence Award recipients share stories of achievement over adversity

Despite concerted efforts to make the legal profession more diverse and inclusive, progress toward achieving that goal still can be frustratingly slow. But for two decades, the ABA has held an event at its midyear meetings that gives a jolt of inspiration to help energize efforts to achieve equality in…

Feb 7, 2016 1:15 PM CST

Diversity and inclusion will be major themes at 2016 ABA Midyear Meeting

After a year when race and bias have been important parts of the national conversation—and when a woman of color is serving as ABA president for the first time—diversity and inclusion will be major topics at the ABA Midyear Meeting. The meeting is slated to start Thursday in San Diego.…

Feb 4, 2016 8:15 AM CST

Microsoft’s legal chief trumpets diversity council’s accomplishments

Microsoft Corp.'s president and chief legal officer, Brad Smith, has long been a champion for racial and gender diversity. Indeed, he says that he's believed in the benefits of diversity since he was in grade school.

Feb 1, 2016 2:00 AM CST

Diversity is the primary reason for decision to increase size of ABA leadership ranks

When the ABA House of Delegates considered a number of proposals in August to revise the association's governance structure, the process resulted in a familiar outcome: The existing structure was left pretty much intact, while the size of all three of the association's key leadership entities grew.

Feb 1, 2016 1:00 AM CST

Partner’s ‘slave’ comment to contract attorney led to tweet that launched a law firm

Yondi Morris was already unhappy about her job as a contract attorney when a comment by a partner at the firm for which she was then working prompted her to do something about it. After walking over to see how Morris was doing, “he just looked at me and said,…

Jan 14, 2016 4:05 PM CST

Inclusion ≠ Exclusion: Understanding implicit bias is key to ensuring an inclusive profession

Jan 1, 2016 4:00 AM CST

Law school nonprofit buys Bill Henderson’s Lawyer Metrics company

A nonprofit group made up of about 200 law schools is acquiring the assets of Lawyer Metrics, a company formed in 2010 partly to help law firms use statistics to hire and retain the best legal talent. The Access Group announced the acquisition in a press release (PDF). Lawyer Metrics…

Dec 21, 2015 3:40 PM CST

White lawyers may have biases that hurt their black clients, says op-ed calling for more diversity

Bankruptcy lawyers were more likely to recommend Chapter 13 bankruptcy for hypothetical debtors named “Reggie and Latisha” than those named “Todd and Allison,” according to a 2012 study by three law professors. The findings may explain why black debtors are about twice as likely to file less advantageous Chapter 13…

Dec 14, 2015 6:45 AM CST

These law firms got a perfect score on LGBT issues from the Corporate Equality Index

Ninety-five law firms got a perfect score this year on the Corporate Equality Index developed by the Human Rights Campaign. That’s an increase from 87 law firms that got perfect scores last year, report the Am Law Daily (sub. req.) and a press release. The survey (PDF), which garnered responses…

Nov 20, 2015 7:57 AM CST

Percentage of black associates continues to fall in ‘distressing’ trend, NALP leader says

The percentage of black associates has fallen every year since 2009 while the percentage of black partners has “barely budged” during that time, according to the National Association for Law Placement. Among associates, the percentage of African Americans at major U.S. law firms has fallen from 4.66 percent in 2009…

Nov 19, 2015 8:31 AM CST

Greater diversity and inclusion in the legal profession will help achieve justice for all

Nov 1, 2015 4:00 AM CST

Friends since childhood, two men earn law degrees and establish large PI firm

David Godsey took an unusual path to operating a law firm, and so did his partner, Justin Martin. But their grass-roots approach to practicing law has worked, the former insurance company claims manager says. Hence their firm, which they bill as the largest African-American owned personal injury shop in Texas,…

Oct 30, 2015 1:20 PM CDT

Judge tosses ADA suit against BigLaw firms, cites plaintiff’s ‘outright speculation’

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit (PDF) contending that BigLaw firms’ reliance on law school rankings in hiring discriminated against the disabled. U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert of Philadelphia tossed the suit by William Joseph Hanrahan in an Oct. 2 decision, the Legal Intelligencer reports. The decision is a…

Oct 6, 2015 9:43 AM CDT

Paulette Brown brings passion for inclusion as the first woman of color to lead the ABA

Paulette Brown lets you know what she thinks, her friends say. And if she supports you on something, they add, you can count on having a smart, strategic, loyal and fearless advocate. Brown, the ABA's new president, is the first black woman and the first woman of color to lead…

Sep 1, 2015 6:30 AM CDT

Expanding Our Reach: New initiatives will promote and advance the four ABA goals

Sep 1, 2015 4:00 AM CDT