Diversity Pipeline Project

Project Description

The Diversity Pipeline Project is one of the cornerstones of the State Bar's diversity and inclusion efforts.  The project seeks to work in partnership with Arizona's attorneys, schools, colleges, organizations, etc. to encourage young people, especially people in the underrepresented populations, to consider careers in the law profession.

Project Objective

The objective is to design programs and activities that send volunteer attorneys and law students to our communities, schools, and civic organizations to interact with our youth and educate them on steps to take to become an attorney and career options in the legal field.

History of Program

The State Bar of Arizona's Diversity Pipeline Project grew out of the Bar's Diversity Task Force recommendations.  The Bar Leadership Institute, elementary school outreach visits and an annual summer law camp in Phoenix and Tucson are components of the pipeline project. 

In developing the purpose and goals for the Diversity Pipeline Project, it is envisioned that the Bar's Diversity Pipeline Project would bring under one umbrella efforts of the different entities involved in their individual pipeline projects.

It is important to emphasize that the State Bar of Arizona diversity activities extend beyond concerns of minorities and women, and also include attorneys with disabilities, as well as LGBT and very experienced attorneys who have many years of practice under their belt. Bringing all activities on behalf of these constituencies within the Bar's Diversity efforts enables the State Bar to take a more comprehensive approach to achieve our diversity goals, while using resources and volunteers in a more effective and efficient manner.

Another major consideration for the development of the State Bar's diversity and inclusion efforts, including the Pipeline Project, is to group all pipeline and diversity issues and activities along a single, complete diversity and inclusion competency continuum.

The State Bar Diversity Pipeline as an important component of our overall diversity efforts includes all school based programs from elementary to middle school, to high school, colleges and universities, and law schools, while also extending to issues related to recruitment, retention and advancement in the legal profession.