2000 Annual Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000
The commitment from the State Bar's incoming
presidents, Gary Bakke and Gerald Mowris, to increase Bar involvement -
especially among minorities - is a good sign of the progress to come.
Here is a summary of what was done this past year.
The need for diversity. "Change is inevitable; growth is optional,"
warned Dr. Samuel Betances, keynote speaker at the Bench & Bar
Conference's plenary session at the midwinter convention, sponsored by
the State Bar Diversity Outreach Committee. Betances addressed the need
for diversity initiatives to respond to the ever-changing face of
today's workplace. During the panel discussion, bench and bar leaders
discussed how the State Bar can best achieve its diversity goals. One
participant noted that while more women and minorities are entering the
legal profession, they have yet to become involved in Bar leadership in
any significant way. President-elect Gary Bakke wants to see this
change.
Furthering the cause of diversity and rekindling lawyers' passion for
justice. Morris Dees, acclaimed civil rights crusader and Southern
Poverty Law Center cofounder, was the featured speaker at the annual
convention. "There are tyrants today [who] we can use our legal skills
to deal with," says Dees. Whether it's ensuring equal treatment
regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, or age, or protecting
consumers from dangerous products, "lawyers hold the keys to the gates
of justice."
Opening doors for minority and women lawyers. The State Bar Diversity
Outreach Committee, active since 1996 in encouraging the retention of
women and minorities as corporate counsel, held its annual conference in
Milwaukee. Corporate counsel and service providers offered practical
suggestions for attorneys seeking corporate counsel positions.
Keynote speaker Hon. Charles Clevert discussed the changing
demographics of the U.S., saying, "Business will need to understand
other cultures and respect diversity in order to stay competitive. More
and more, companies are gearing advertising to minorities, and it will
become increasingly difficult not to employ minorities. All of this
underscores the purpose of this program - opening doors and breaking
down barriers."
Expanding law students' and firms' horizons. The Minority Clerkship
Program placed 19 first-year law students in 17 law firms, corporate
legal departments, and government agencies during FY00. Sponsored by the
State Bar Committee to Encourage the Placement of Minority Lawyers, the
program has given about 100 students practical exposure to legal
environments that traditionally have been closed to minorities, while
enabling employers to promote diversity in their organizations.
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