Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession 

    The mission of the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession (The Commission) is to serve as a catalyst promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal profession and the ABA by facilitating the entry, participation and retention of diverse lawyers. The Commission achieves this by furthering the development of substantive programs and services in which diverse lawyers, law firms and law students will actively participate.If you would like to support the Commission’s projects please contact Keevin.woods@americanbar.org

    2023 ABA Spirit of Excellence Award

    February 2023 - Spirit of Excellence Awards

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    ABA Model Diversity Survey

    The ABA House of Delegates passed Resolution 113 that urges all providers of legal services, particularly law firms, to expand and create opportunities at all levels of responsibility for diverse attorneys.

    Join - the GC Pledge

    Diversity and Inclusion Champion Awards

    This award will honor one ABA Section, Division, or Forum that has demonstrated through their actions the level of commitment and impact that was made in one or both of the previous two bar years on diversity and inclusion.

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    Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy

    The CBLA marks the first substantive program resulting from a collaboration of the six sponsoring bar associations and lays the foundation for further collaborative efforts to foster diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

    Go To - 2022 CBLA

    CLE and Diversity Bar Leadership Reception

    Suppressing Public Protests in America: Do Free Speech and Free Assembly Matter Anymore?

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    The Innovator

    A newsletter of the ABA’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. We use this publication to keep in touch with you regarding our activities and developments to promote diversity and inclusion in the profession and to highlight the diversity and inclusion efforts of the ABA’s various Sections, Divisions and Forums.

    Issues

    View Current Issue: Summer 2022, Volume 6 Issue 2

    Past Issues:
    Winter 2022, Volume 6 Issue 1
    Summer 2021, Volume 5 Issue 2
    Winter 2020, Volume 5 Issue 1
    Fall 2019, Volume 4 Issue 2
    Winter 2019, Volume 4 Issue 1
    Fall 2018, Volume 3 Issue 2
    Winter 2018, Volume 3 Issue 1
    Fall 2017, Volume 2 Issue 2
    Winter 2017, Volume 2 Issue 1
    Fall 2016, Volume 1 Issue 2
    Winter 2016, Volume 1 Issue 1

    Books

    About the Commission

    Created in 1986 and the oldest racial and ethnic diversity entity within the ABA, the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession through its work and programs, is a catalyst for creating leadership and economic opportunities for racial and ethnically diverse lawyers in the legal profession.

    Timeline

    2019
    The Model Diversity Survey obtained 105 corporate signatories and negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Interlaw Diversity Forum in the United Kingdom.

    2018
    The Presidential Showcase program: ““Trump and Diverse Communities – A Kaleidoscope of Controversy”, was the best-attended Showcase event of the 2018 Annual Meeting.

    2017
    At the 2017 ABA Annual meeting, the Commission hosted a panel entitled “Enhancing Justice and Reducing Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession:  Strategies that Work.”

    Resources

    Leadership

    Explore ABA Groups

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