Commitment to Diversity

American Bar Association Goal III

  1. Promote full and equal participation in the association, our profession, and the justice system by all persons.
  2. Eliminate bias in the legal profession and the justice system.

      Law Student Division Diversity Plan

      The Law Student Division is committed to promoting diversity in the profession and ensuring equal opportunities and inclusion of all law students in the membership, leadership, and activities of the ABA Law Student Division regardless of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender.

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      Law Student Division Initiatives

       

      Dean Henry J. Ramsey, Jr. Diversity Award
      The Division's Diversity Award serves as a testament to Dean Henry J. Ramsey, Jr. of Howard University for his lifetime commitment to issues of inclusiveness and his efforts to increase the quality of the practice and study of the law. The Diversity Award recognizes excellence in activities that have contributed toward the achievement and advancement of women, minorities, persons with disabilities in the profession and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. The Henry J. Ramsey, Jr. Award for Diversity is presented to a student, faculty, administrator, or student group/organization from an ABA-approved law school during the ABA Annual Meeting.. ( Postmarked Entry Deadline: April 1 ). Tell me more

      Diversity Day
      The ABA Law Student Division has selected March 2, as the official Diversity Day at law schools across the country. Under the plan, law schools are encouraged to sponsor educational programs and events that teach and foster respect for different races, genders, religions, sexual orientations and individuals with disabilities.

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      ABA Goal III Reports

      The ABA Goal III Report examines the participation of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the American Bar Association as members, speakers and leadership within all entities of the ABA. The findings of the Goal II Reports are based on surveys that ABA entities complete each year. The 2011 Reports are expected to be released in February 2011.

      2010 Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession Goal III Report
      Report examines the participation of minorities in the ABA as members, speakers and leadership. For previous year's reports, visit the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethic Diversity in the Profession

      2010 Commission on Physical and Mental Disability Law's Annual Goal III Report
      Discussion of the representation of lawyers with disabilities in leadership positions within all entities of the ABA. For previous year's reports, visit the Commission on Physical and Mental Disability Law.

      2010 Commission on Women in the Profession Annual Goal III Report
      This annual report card provides detailed statistics on women involvement in the ABA and measures women's progress in attaining leadership positions within the ABA. For previous year's reports, visit the Commission on Women in the Profession.

      Statistics About Minorities in the Profession

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      Awards and Competitions

      Dean Henry J. Ramsey, Jr. Diversity Award
      Sponsor: ABA Law Student Division
      Recognize excellence in activities that have contributed toward the achievement and advancement of women, minorities and persons with disabilities in the profession.
      Tell me more

      Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award
      Sponsor: ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
      Recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence within their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for other women lawyers.       Tell me more

      Thurgood Marshall Award Honoring Outstanding Contributions to Civil Rights
      Sponsor: Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities
      Honors long-term contributions made by those in the legal profession to advance civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights in the United States      . Tell me more

      Spirit of Excellence Award
      Sponsor: ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity
      Celebrates the achievements of diverse lawyers and others who contribute to the legal profession and society.       Tell me more

      ( More writing contests covering an array of topics)

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      Other Opportunities

      CLEO diverCITY Network
      Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)
      The CLEO diverCITY Network is an online portal recently established by the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) to be “the virtual destination for minority law students.” CLEO is actively encouraging minority/underrepresented law students seeking membership in CLEO to register as a new CLEO Affiliate . Registration is Free. To sign up, click on the “ Students” button from CLEO's home page. If you are not familiar with CLEO or their mission, click here.  

      Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund (AEF)
      Robert T. Matsui Annual Writing Competition
      Entry deadline: June
      Award: $1,500 and publication in the UCLA Asian Pacific American Law Journal

      The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Bar Association
      Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition
      Awards: $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000. First-place winner will also receive registration, airfare and lodging to attend Lavender Law and publication in the  Journal of Law and Sexuality.
      Entry deadline: June
      For questions or additional information visit  http://www.nlgla.org/

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      Scholarships and Resume Building Opportunities

      Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund
      Sponsor: ABA Fund for Justice and Education
      Eligibility: Must be entering first-year of law school; must have a grade point average of 2.5 (based on 4.0 grading scale); must be a citizen or permanent US resident; and must plan to attend an ABA-approved law school. Tell me more

      Judicial Clerkship Program
      Sponsors: ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity and the ABA Judicial Division
      Designed to bring judges and minority law students together through structured networking activities.       Tell me more

      Judicial Intern Opportunity Program
      Sponsor: Section of Litigation and the Section of Intellectual Property Law
      The American Bar Association Section of Litigation       will begin accepting applications for second-year law students on October 4th, and December 1st for first-year students.  The deadline for applying is January 7, 2011. The program is a full-time, six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first-or second-year minority and/or financially disadvantaged law students. Tell me more

      Minority Fellowships in Environmental Law
      Sponsored by the ABA Section of Environment Energy and Natural Resources Law.
      The ABA Diversity Fellowship in Environmental Law is designed to encourage disadvantaged or traditionally underrepresented law students to study and pursue careers in environmental law. Application deadline: November Tell me more

      Mentor Program for Students with Disabilities
      Sponsor: Commission on Mental and Physical Disabilities Law
      This program is open to all law students with physical, mental, or learning disabilities. Students are paired with practicing attorneys, based on the student's interest in either being matched according to disability, geographical location, or area of interest. Mentors offer students both academic and career advice, in addition to insights into the private and government sectors.       Tell me more

      Commission on Physical and Mental Disability Law
      The ABA Commission on Physical and Mental Disability Law provides a webpage containing some scholarships and financial assistance resources available to students with disabilities. These sites are simply suggestions and are not affiliated or supported by the ABA or the Commission. Tell me more

      Commission on Physical and Mental Disability Law
      Annual National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities
      This groundbreaking program is designed to encourage legal employers, particularly corporations and law firms, to promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace with emphasis on hiring and retaining lawyers with disabilities.  Learn best practices for promoting disability diversity and inclusion and identify legal employers and work settings that are models for the legal profession.  Scholarships for lawyers and law students with disabilities to cover lodging and registration costs are available through an application process.  For more information, contact Michael Stratton (202.662.1571).  Tell me more

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      ABA Goal III Reports

      The ABA Goal III Report examines the participation of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities in the American Bar Association as members, speakers and leadership within all entities of the ABA. The findings of the Goal III Reports are based on surveys that ABA entities complete each year. Tell me more

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      Awards and Other Opportunities

      Each year the American Bar Association recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of legal professionals, law students, law schools and law school organizations for their achievements and advancement of women, minorities, personal with disabilities, and individuals of differing social orientations.

       

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      Resources for Minority Law Students

       

      The American Bar Association offers an array of resources and guidance for law students of color and those from low economic backgrounds to begin building their bridge to a successful and rewarding legal career.

       

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      Combating Bias

      The American Bar Association offers an array of resources and guidance for law students interested in taking on the task of combating bias in law school, within the legal profession and in their communities. 

       

      The mission of every American lawyers should be to build public trust and confidence in the justice system — and in the legal profession — through partnerships with the public in justice reform. Discover how the ABA can help you get involved in improving the administration of justice in your area.

       

       

      Also, don't miss the exciting opportunities available to students of color and those from low income backgrounds through The Council on Legal Education Opportunities (CLEO).

       

      Law Students who are in recovery from alcoholism or drug dependency can communicate with other law students struggling with how to stay clean and sober through law school and related issues.  The ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistants Programs maintains a listserv for recovering law students.  If you are interested in joining this group online, contact Matthew Reel.

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