We need to democratize the law.
When law is the least diverse profession in America, clients lack access to legal support in a language they understand, we create legal knowledge deserts in predominantly minority communities, and a lack of access to legal careers leads to underrepresentation in policy-making circles
Have: A legal profession lacking the language skills and competencies to serve a diverse clientele
Have: A legal profession lacking the language skills and competencies to serve a diverse clientele
Have: A legal profession lacking the language skills and competencies to serve a diverse clientele
Want: A legal profession that reflects the diversity of our communities and clients
Have: A legal profession lacking the language skills and competencies to serve a diverse clientele
Have: A legal profession lacking the language skills and competencies to serve a diverse clientele
The Shifting Model of diversity is failing.
Diversity efforts in the legal profession are primarily focused on law schools, with larger firms and corporations welcoming minority law students with special interview opportunities. These practices shift the limited supply of minority law students toward these higher paying employers, but do not add to the overall diversity of the profession and take minorities away from roles where their language skills are desperately needed.
We need to address diversity earlier.
Long before law school, many brilliant would-be attorneys are filtered out due to a lack of institutional knowledge or resources. If we intervene through secondary education, we can promote a Proactive Model of diversity that creates real change in the profession and serves the needs of clients.