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 law firms, 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 would send volunteers to our communities, schools, civic organizations, etc. so they can expose our young people to what it takes to become an attorney or have a career in the legal field.

History of Program

The State Bar of Arizona's Diversity Project is a new one.  Therefore the diversity pipeline project is new to the Bar and grew out of the Bar's Diversity Task Force recommendations.  The Bar Leadership Institute is already in operation and is part of the pipeline project where 15 attorneys of various backgrounds are brought into a formal program to groom them for leadership positions within the Bar.  However, Arizona's Law Schools and Bar organizations such as the National Hispanic Bar Association, Arizona Chapter of the National Bar Association, and Los Abogados Bar Association have already started their individual diversity pipeline programs.

Future Program Plans and Components

Community Outreach
Outreach to high schools and junior colleges
Partnership with the Diversity Leadership Alliance
Partnership with Arizona Law Schools, law firms, and specialty bars
Partnership with the Foundation for Legal Services & Education
Lateral attorney searches
Targeted audience
Participants

Strategies

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.