It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that we’re about to hit the 10-year anniversary for Lawyers of Color. The organization founded in 2013 to advance diversity in the legal industry has been a critical component of my coverage of legal industry diversity since I joined Above the Law.
As it happens, Above the Law had a role — not necessarily a positive one — in inspiring the non-profit. When Lawyers of Color president Yolanda Young got “laid off” after reporting an attorney using racial slurs, she sued Covington & Burling. Her experience in the old Above the Law comment boards, where a small clique of sometimes virulent trolls lurked, helped bring Young realize “there needed to be a Black ATL!” Not just as a blog (though the now-dormant On Being A Black Lawyer certainly was that), but as a community.
Lawyers of Color replaced the daily blogging with putting out touchstone digital publications recognizing BIPOC legal professionals (unlike some accolades that we won’t mention by name, Lawyers of Color never requires a fee or sponsorship to be nominated or included in its publications either). Its Black Student’s Guide To Law Schools & Firms is a tremendous resource for students endeavoring to make this profession more representative and the Law Firm Leaders issue is “the first ever comprehensive listing of law firm decision makers who are of African, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American descent.” The upcoming calendar for 2023 promises another edition of those guides, as well as a comprehensive directory of BIPOC federal and state judges and law clerks, the hot list of junior and mid-level attorneys, and an issue honoring Capitol Hill staffers, lobbyists, and influencers.
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But Lawyers of Color could always use help. If your firm has lawyers who should be included in their guides, let them know! There’s no virtue in being shy when it comes to promoting visibility. Check out the editorial calendar for 2023, make note of the nominations deadlines, and reach out.
Congrats to Lawyers of Color on the upcoming anniversary!
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.