Diversity
Publications
Diversity Matters Newsletter
Awards
Diversity Leadership Award
The Diversity Leadership Award recognizes long standing, continuing and exceptional commitment by an individual or an organization to the critical importance of diversity within the Illinois legal community, its judiciary and within the Illinois State Bar Association. Nominations must be received by April 6, 2012.
Related Groups
- Diversity Leadership Council
- Standing Committee on Disability Law
- Standing Committee on Diversity Pipeline
- Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law
- Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
- Standing Committee on Women and the Law
- Human Rights Section
- International and Immigration Law Section
The Illinois State Bar Association is committed to the twin values of diversity and inclusion, both within the organization and in the legal profession as a whole. We value the contributions, creativity, and wisdom that emanate from a diverse membership and we are committed to ensuring that the law gives due respect to the full spectrum of perspectives and experiences of a multi-cultural society.
We recognize, however, that while the legal profession has made great strides towards promoting diversity, there is still much work to be done. In 2007, the ISBA appointed a Task Force on Diversity to evaluate how best to advance the ISBA’s diversity goals. After completing the first-ever statewide diversity survey in 2008, the Task Force offered a number of proposals to move the ISBA’s diversity agenda forward, including:
- Launch of the first ISBA Diversity Website
- Continuation of the Diversity Matters newsletter
- Development of a Diversity Leadership Award recognizing significant contributions by individuals or organizations in advancing diversity
- Development of a Diversity Leadership Institute to increase diversity with the ISBA
- Creation of a 100 Future Leaders Diversity Pipeline Project to increase diversity in the legal profession as a whole
The Task Force also recommended that the ISBA reorganize its diversity-related committees and section councils under the umbrella of a new Diversity Leadership Council to coordinate committee work and outreach efforts. The Council began its work during the 2009-2010 term. Links to the affiliated committees and section councils appears in the box to the right, along with a complete copy of the Diversity Task Force’s Final Report and other diversity-related publications.