As our society becomes more diverse, with the 2000 Census forecasting that the ethnically diverse population will reach more than 32 percent in 20 years (Carnevale & Fry, 2000), it is ironic that the legal profession, which is responsible for diversity in the U.S. workforce, may be one of the least diverse of all professions with over 90 percent of its practitioners being Caucasian. Not only are lawyers of color underrepresented in the profession, they are leaving law firms at an alarming rate. One of the reasons cited is that, “no one took interest in the lawyers career or professional well-being.

Although young women and minority lawyers seek mentors who have gone through similar experiences, there are few women and minority lawyers in mentoring positions because they leave the firms prior to making partner.” *To address the problem of under representation of lawyers of color and the lack of mentorship available to them, the Commercial Law Section of the National Bar Association formed the Committee On The Development of Ethnically Diverse Lawyers that has rallied together the volunteer efforts of corporate in-house counsel, the judiciary and career development trainers to formulate a “Pipeline Program.” The Pipeline Program is a collaboration of pre-law school training, clerkships and career development courses aimed at increasing the number of ethnically diverse lawyers of color graduating from law schools and to demonstrate a concerted effort by the legal community to ensure the retention and success of lawyers of color, starting in the state of Arizona.

Numbers of Lawyers by Ethnic Origin in Arizona

Reported by the State Bar of Arizona

Each year, lawyers are asked to self-report their ethnicity of origin. Lawyers are not required to provide this information but are invited to participate. The following reflects data reported on 2000 dues statements. The membership population also has reported fluency in more than 60 languages including Apache, Guarant, Quiche, Urdu, French, Latin and Spanish.

Asian/Pacific 137 African American 161 Caucasian 11,354 Hispanic 586 Native American 113 Other 129 Unreported 6,940