Diversity in the Profession Committee
Purpose
To examine the historical and current status of minorities in the legal profession, and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding how the bar can take action to enhance employment and economic opportunities for minorities in the profession and to increase involvement by minorities in the bar.
Chair
Glenwood Hill II
Bracewell LLP
1445 Ross Ave Ste 3800
Dallas, TX 75202-2711
(214) 758-1639
glenwood.hill@bracewelllaw.com
Vice-Chair
Moha Yepuri
U.S. Dept of Justice, Tax Division
717 N Harwood St Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75201-6506
(214) 880-9767
Moha.P.Yepuri@usdoj.gov
Current Projects
Scholarship
The Bar Exam Prep Scholarship serves to facilitate diverse
students’ entrance into the legal profession by assisting them to
meet the challenges and financial burdens of successfully preparing for
the Texas Bar Exam. Those eligible for the scholarship are diverse
third year law school students who will prepare for the Texas Bar Exam
and who attend an ABA-accredited Texas law school.
2018 Scholarship Application COMING SOON
2016-2017 Scholarship Recipients
Roina Baker – University of North Texas Dallas College of Law
Cielo Fortin-Camacho – Texas A&M School of Law
Chris Hsu – University of Houston Law Center
Adia Mercado-Montero – University of Texas School of Law
Chime Nwikoro – SMU Dedman School of Law
Briana Perez – University of Texas School of Law
Texas
Minority Law Student Program
The TMLS program offers law students the following: (1) a panel
discussion by attorneys at various levels in their respective
careers in different sectors of the legal profession; (2) a networking
luncheon with the students; and (3) mock interviews.
Texas
Minority
Attorney
Program
The Texas Minority Attorney Program is an event geared towards
minority
solo and small firm practitioners. Issues addressed at the annual
conference
include obtaining court appointments, improving office management, and
creating
and implementing client development strategies.
Texas
Minority Counsel Program
The Texas Minority Counsel Program's mission is to expand and increase
the
opportunities for diverse attorneys who provide legal
services
for corporate and government clients. Through the TMCP Annual
Conference,
the program seeks to encourage corporations and government agencies to
retain diverse lawyers for outside counsel work.
Periodicals and Reports
Texas
Spectrum Newsletter
Published bi-annually, the Texas Spectrum is the official newsletter of
the State Bar Office of Minority Affairs, produced in conjunction with
the Diversity in the Profession Committee. Articles included in the
publication deal with issues that affect minorities and women in the
legal profession. The publication's mailing list includes, but is not
limited to: all minority attorneys, leaders of minority and women bar
associations, State Bar leaders, law schools, and the Supreme Court
justices. Send an email to minorityaffairs@texasbar.com
to subscribe to this e-newsletter.
Reports on Demographic and Economic Trends
Produced by the State Bar of Texas Research and Analysis Department
History: Who We are
In 1989, the Diversity in the Profession Committee, formerly known as the Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession Committee, was created by then State Bar President Darrell Jordan of Dallas. Its purpose was to enhance opportunities for minorities in the legal profession and to increase minority involvement in the bar. Just one year after its inception, the State Bar institutionalized the committee as a standing committee, and its members successfully worked with the State Bar Board of Directors to initiate an ethnicity survey of bar membership, create a permanent staff position dedicated exclusively to minority affairs, and approve the support for diversity in State Bar grievance committees.
Building from such a strong foundation of unique ideas and individuals, the Committee was able to continue to turn its goals into reality through projects like 1993's Statement of Goals for the Hiring and Retention of Minority Lawyers, and 1997's Symposium for Excellence in the Profession: Focus on Diversity. Since 1993, however, the flagship project of the Committee has been the Texas Minority Counsel Program.
The TMCP brings minority and women attorneys together with representatives of corporate and governmental legal departments to discuss outside counsel opportunities and earn valuable CLE credit. Since 1995, the TMCP has sustained yearly averages of more than 300 attendees, over 37 participating corporations, and greater than 280 informational interviews. The program is considered to be the largest networking event for minority lawyers in Texas.
The Committee also spearheads the annual Texas Minority Attorney Program, a newly created networking event geared towards minority and women solo and small firm practitioners.
In 2002 the Committee adopted its current name, the Diversity in the Profession Committee, to reflect the changing demographics of the state of Texas. Not lost, though, was the Committee's continual focus on promoting and pursuing new prospects and opportunities for all minority attorneys.
Continuing Goals
Racial Diversity in the Judiciary
To continue to explore ways to increase the number of minority judges at all levels of the judicial system. A subcommittee will be charged with the task of developing an informational seminar about becoming a Judge.
Maintaining Diversity in Texas Law Schools
To seek an increase in the number of minority law students in Texas law schools. The Diversity in the Profession Committee will examine ways to make LSAT prep courses available to economically disadvantaged college students.
Minority Representation on the State Bar Board of Directors
To develop a program to identify and encourage minority attorneys to serve on the State Bar Board. The ideas developed by the Committee will be implemented in cooperation with local minority bars.
Law Firm Diversity
The Diversity in the Profession Committee always remains committed to encouraging and facilitating the recruitment and retention of minority lawyers in major Texas law firms. In addition, the committee will continue to assist bar associations for which it has helped launch a Statement of Goals initiative assessing the hiring and retention of minorities by signatories to the statement.
Contact Us
Committees
P.O. Box
12487
Austin, TX 78711-2487
Ph: (512) 427-1463, ext. 1516 or (800) 204-2222, ext. 1516
Fax: (512) 427-4276
committees@texasbar.com
Office of Minority Affairs
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701-1627
Ph: (512) 427-1463, ext. 1538 or
(800) 204-2222, ext. 1538
Fax: (512) 427-4439
minorityaffairs@texasbar.com
Communications
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701-1627
Ph: (512) 427-1463 or
(800) 204-2222
Fax: (512) 427-4104
Office of Research and Analysis
1414 Colorado St.
Austin, TX 78701-1627
Ph: (512) 427-1463, ext. 1724 or
(800) 204-2222, ext. 1724
Fax: (512) 427-4100
