Mission Statement
It is the goal of the ABA Young Lawyers Division to promote diversity within the profession and ensure equal opportunity and inclusion for all lawyers regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity in the membership, leadership, programming, and other activities of the ABA YLD by doing the following:
- Actively recruiting lawyers of color, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (“LGBT”) lawyers;
- Fostering an environment of inclusion to assist in retention of lawyers of color, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBT lawyers;
- Identifying and attempting to remove all barriers, whether institutional, attitudinal or behavioral, to the full and meaningful participation of lawyers of color, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBT lawyers in the ABA YLD;
- Actively seeking the participation of lawyers of color, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities and LGBT lawyers in ABA YLD events and on programs, task forces, and working groups; and
- Providing lawyers of color, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBT lawyers with opportunities and training to take on leadership roles within the ABA YLD.
Read the complete YLD Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan (2020-2021).