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Vol. 73, No. 11, November 2000 - 2000
Annual Report
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2000 Annual Report
Fiscal Year July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000
 Annual
Report
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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