Diversity Homepage
The ISBA’S Diversity & Inclusion mission statement: The ISBA values diversity and prioritizes the inclusion and active participation of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois at all levels of the organization. To that end, the ISBA takes affirmative steps to ensure that attorneys of all backgrounds, identities, and circumstances are included in every level of the organization. The ISBA’s investment in creating a more inclusive profession is broadly communicated and reflected by example, both within the Association and the wider legal community.
Diversity Leadership Council
The Council's mission is to: foster communication and coordination between the ISBA's diversity-related committees and section councils (including the Standing Committees on Women and the Law, Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and Disability Law, as well as the Human Rights Section Council and the International Law and Immigration Section Council); and to coordinate the ISBA's diversity outreach efforts, which would include such projects as: the Diversity Leadership Institute; Diversity CLE programs; Regional Diversity receptions; annual Diversity Award; Annual Diversity Luncheon; the ISBA's Diversity website; the Diversity Matters Newsletter; and periodic diversity surveys.
Standing Committee on Disability Law
The Disability Law Committee's mission is: to educate attorneys, judges, and members of the public about the law as it relates to persons with disabilities; to promote fair and equal treatment of persons with disabilities; monitor and propose legislation; and provide a forum for education and advocacy as it relates to persons with disabilities; and to further the professional development and inclusion of attorneys and law students with disabilities, as well as practitioners who serve clients with disabilities, by creating programming and other resources to support their professional needs.
Standing Committee on Mental Health Law
The mission of the Mental Health Law Section is:
- To review proposed and existing statutes, legislation, rules and court decisions affecting persons with mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders and make recommendations to the Board of Governors concerning these matters.
- To provide training and education to lawyers concerning the interaction between mental illness and the law and legal practice.
- To provide information to mental health professionals and the public concerning laws and rules affecting persons with mental illnesses.
- To collaborate with other professional and advocacy organizations to promote awareness of mental illnesses and mental health and to increase mental health services
Human Rights Section
The Human Rights Section Council: educates the people of Illinois about their human rights and the human rights of others; informs the people of Illinois about the impact on such rights by existing or proposed laws, and the policies and actions of governments or other actors; assists the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) membership in understanding and protecting the human rights of their clients; encourages solidarity between the Illinois bar and all members of the national and international legal profession as a means of strengthening human rights and the rule of law; advises the ISBA on issues related to human rights; and promotes the legal recognition and protection of human rights.
Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law
The Committee's mission is: to educate attorneys, judges, and members of the public about the law as it relates to racial and ethnic minority groups; to monitor and comment upon proposed legislation, administrative rules, and judicial decisions that uniquely affect racial and ethnic minority groups; to gather and centralize resources on other issues impacting racial and ethnic minorities and to serve as a voice to the ISBA, the legal profession, and society at large on those issues: and to further the professional development and inclusion of minority attorneys and law students, as well as practitioners who serve minority clients, by creating programming and other resources to support their professional needs.
Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
The mission of ISBA Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is: to educate attorneys, judges, the Association, and members of the general public about the law as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") persons; to promote the fair and equal treatment of LGBT individuals by identifying the types of discrimination that LGBT persons experience and pursuing appropriate forms of education, legislation, and advocacy to eliminate such discrimination; and to further the professional development of LGBT attorneys and law students, as well as practitioners who serve LGBT clients, by creating programming, mentoring opportunities, and other resources that support their professional needs and interests.
Standing Committee on Women and the Law
The mission of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law is: to study and to focus on areas of law uniquely affecting women; assess, design, and implement programs designed to satisfy womens unmet legal needs; study and recommend legislation uniquely affecting women; provide a forum for action relating to women's issues; and explore ways to encourage women in their involvement in the legal community at all levels.