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WELCOME TO THE HOMEPAGE OF THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION'S
COMMITTEE ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2012 TRAILBLAZER AWARD WINNERS

Changemaker—Paul Williams, Executive Director, NYS Dormitory Authority, Albany, NY

Lifetime Achievement—Professor Jenny Rivera, CUNY School of Law, Flushing, NY

One to Watch—Joseph Hanna, Goldberg Segalla, Buffalo, NY

The New York State Bar Association is grateful to the following law firms for their underwriting support of the 2012 Celebrating Diversity in the Bar Reception:

                                                              

                          SILVER SPONSOR                

                      ADDITIONAL SUPPORT            

To see the video of the 2011 award presentation, click here. 

To view images from the 2011 Diversity Reception and Awards Ceremony, click here.

2011 Diversity Report Card

Click on the cover image to view and download the report      

Click on the CD image to view the report's appendices               

SPECIAL RESOURCE

To view information about the Steven C. Krane Special Committee on Student Loan Assistance in the Public Interest, click here.

SCENES FROM THE 2011 MINORITY LAW STUDENT CONFERENCE DAY
Fordham University, August 3, 2011

All Images created by Richard A. Smith, Photography. Copyright 2011, all rights reserved.

January 211 Motley Symposium and CLE Program
"Do the Right Thing"

The June 2011 edition of the New York State Bar Association Journal provides an in-depth look at the challenges diverse attorneys face in today's market with respect to crucial skills of networking, mentoring and business and leadership development

To read the article, click here.

The committee was originally created in 1985 and is currently co-chaired by Betty Lugo and Ken Standard.
To view the history of the committee, click here.

Mission Statement

The objectives of the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion are to promote and advance the full and equal participation of attorneys of color and other diverse attorneys in the New York State Bar Association and in all sectors and at every level of the legal profession through research, education, fostering involvement and leadership development in NYSBA and other professional activities, and to promote knowledge of and respect for the profession in communities that historically have been excluded from the practice of law.

The Committee shall also foster the, development of, monitor progress of and report on diversity initiatives of the Association, as well as partner with the Sections to continue to pursue enhanced diversity and inclusion in the Association, including among the leadership of the Association.

In conducting its work, the Committee shall consult with and engage Association leaders, other entities and individuals, including Sections of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders, the Committee on Leadership Development, the Committee on Women in the Law, the Committee on Civil Rights, the Committee on Issues Affecting People with Disabilities, the Committee on LGBT People and the Law, The Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, minority and women’s bar associations, and others with an interest in the Committee’s mission and activities.

2011- 2012 Subcommittees

2012 Trailblazer Award Nomination Review
Rachel Ryan, Chair
Paula Edgar
Sheila Gaddis
Kendrick Patterson
Jerry Vattamala

2012 Diversity Reception Event Planning
Sandra Irby
Benu Mehra
Medea Myers

Annual Meeting CLE Program
Sandra Irby, Co-chair
I. Javette Hines, Co-chair
Michael Bernstein
William Edwards
Lillian Moy
Kendrick Patterson
Asaad Siddiqi
Jack Zaremski

Diversity Report Card
To view the 2009 Report Card, click here.
Sharon Gerstman, Chair
John Higgins
Fatimat Reid

Trailblazer Award Criteria Review
Asaad Siddiqi, Chair
Hon. Cheryl Chambers
Betty Lugo

Youth Law Day
Sam Abernethy, Chair
Michael Bernstein
Helena Heath-Roland
Melanie Hendry
Elise Jaffe
Sonji Patrick

2007 Miles to Go in New York Report

Download the Report to the NYSBA House of Delegates (PDF)

Miles To Go: Progress of Minorities in the Legal Profession

Elizabeth Chambliss, author of the American Bar Association's report, Miles to Go: Progress of Minorities in the Legal Profession has agreed to work with this committee to address the many issues that serve as a deterrent to minorities in the legal profession in New York.  In this report the ABA's Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Legal Profession takes stock of the profession's progress as of August 2004, to provide a current, comprehensive picture of the status of minorities in the profession, and to use this information to help the profession set an agenda for future action. Our committee will work with Ms. Chambliss to mirror the work of the Commission in order to be able to help minority law students and attorneys find an easier path into the legal profession.

To purchase a copy (for $20) of the Miles to Go Report, click here.

To view the ABA's Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Legal Profession web page, click here.

To access the ABA's minority links/resources, click here.

The Association of the Bar of the City of New York has released the First Annual Law Firm Diversity Benchmarking Report   to see their report, click here.