Section Newsletters

Articles on Diversity

ISBA visits SIU School of Law Diversity Leadership Council, June 2008 On April 11-12, 2008, the ISBA Standing Committees on Women and the Law and Women and Minority Participation visited SIU School of Law in Carbondale.
National Association of Women Lawyers: 2007 Survey of the Status of Women in Law firms By E. Lynn Grayson Women and the Law, June 2008 On February 19th, the ISBA Women and the Law Committee co-sponsored a National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations’ (“NCWBA”) program titled “A Closer Look: NAWL’s 2007 Survey of Women in Law Firms.”
A square peg in a round world By Sonni Choi Williams Diversity Leadership Council, June 2008 I am a square peg in a round world, but I have many different ideas to offer, many different ways to look at problems, and offer diversity in a round world.  
A square peg in a round world By Sonni Choi Williams Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, June 2008 When Deb Walker called me and asked me to speak at the Celia M. Howard Fellowship Luncheon on the topic of diversity, I was immersed in diversity issues because I was helping the ISBA’s Task Force on Diversity launch a statewide Diversity Survey and I had diversity pouring out of me.
Ten strategies for attorneys facing the challenges of diversity By Alice M. Noble-Allgire Diversity Leadership Council, June 2008 While there is an increasing desire for diversity in the legal profession, diversity brings with it some special challenges for attorneys who transcend the traditional attorney mold.
Ten strategies for attorneys facing the challenges of diversity By Alice M. Noble-Allgire Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, June 2008 While there is an increasing desire for diversity in the legal profession, diversity brings with it some special challenges for attorneys who transcend the traditional attorney mold.
Why diversity matters. . . Diversity Leadership Council, June 2008 The members of the Standing Committee on Women and the Law and the Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation share their views on why diversity matters to them.
Why diversity matters. . . Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, June 2008 The members of the Standing Committee on Women and the Law and the Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation share their views on why diversity matters to them.
Diverse experiences: Covering my hair, not my mind: A Muslim woman’s perspective By Amina Saeed Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, March 2008 This is the first in a series of articles written by practitioners about the challenges faced by minority and women attorneys in the profession and strategies to meet those challenges.
Last chance to complete diversity survey By Sonni Choi Williams Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, March 2008 A “call to action” has been issued to all Illinois attorneys to participate in the first statewide survey designed to gauge the level of diversity in the state.
Changing the climate: Why gender equality matters By Rebecca Pearl Women and the Law, January 2008 Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our time.
ISBA Task Force On Diversity By E. Lynn Grayson Women and the Law, January 2008 On October 30, 2007, the Task Force on Diversity held its first organizational meeting in Chicago. ISBA President Joe Bisceglia created this special task force in response to recommendations made by the ISBA Diversity Pipeline Project in its report issued in March, 2007.
The challenges of being the only __________ in a law firm (or other legal setting) By Elizabeth Gastelum Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, December 2007 The Black Law Students Association of the Southern Illinois University School of Law and the Illinois State Bar Association’s Minority and Women Participation Committee recently co-sponsored a panel discussion addressing the challenges of being the only ________ in a law firm or other legal setting.
Changing the face of the ISBA By Sonni Choi Williams Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, December 2007 In a concerted effort to increase minority and women representation in ISBA governance, on November 2, 2007, the ISBA’s Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation and the Task Force on Diversity presented a program on “Changing the Face of the ISBA: Tips on Running for Office in the ISBA.”
A diversity pipeline success story—A new partnership develops from ISBA’s Diversity Roundtable By Alice M. Noble-Allgire Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, December 2007 The Illinois State Bar Association’s diversity pipeline efforts have already spawned at least one successful new partnership, with the promise of more to come.
ISBA Task Force on Diversity By E. Lynn Grayson Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, December 2007 On October 30, 2007, the Task Force on Diversity held its first organizational meeting in Chicago.
Continuing the hallmark of diversity awareness at the 4th Annual Peoria County Bar Association’s Diversity Luncheon By Sonni Choi Williams Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law, October 2007 On September 17, 2007, the Peoria County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee held its fourth annual Diversity Luncheon and continued the tradition of highlighting the importance of diversity in the legal profession.
Articulating the business case for inclusion By Jane DiRenzo Pigott Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 Abundant research, practical experience, and media stories support the business case for diversity. Ensuring that diversity is achieved requires committed leadership and rigorous assessment so that change is both measurable and sustainable into the future.
Articulating the business case for inclusion By Jane DiRenzo Pigott Women and the Law, June 2007 The business case for diversity is well established and directly relates to any legal organization’s ability to compete for the best clients and talent.
Chair’s column Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 As chairs of the Standing Committees on Women and the Law and Minority and Women Participation, we are pleased to share with you the diversity outreach and educational efforts that our committees have undertaken during the past year. 
The Chicago Call to Action for Women Attorneys: The right thing to do for law firms By E. Lynn Grayson Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 The Call to Action was launched on January 25, 2005 to increase the number of women partners and to enhance leadership opportunities for women attorneys in law firms.
The Chicago Call to Action for Women Attorneys: The right thing to do for law firms By E. Lynn Grayson Women and the Law, June 2007 Law firms continually struggle for meaningful ways to advance commonly shared diversity objectives.
Diversity in the Legal Profession: ISBA’s commitment continues Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 The Illinois State Bar Association has a long-standing and unwavering commitment to diversity in the legal profession and in the Association.  
Diversity in the Legal Profession: What we can do to open doors? Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 The Illinois State Bar Association proudly stood as a co-sponsor of the ABA resolution supporting the creation of a Diversity Pipeline to help guide young minority students to the law. With over 70 official sponsors of the resolution, Illinois stands with 20 state bar associations and numerous county, city and specialty bars, as well as ABA sections, in support of opening doors to offer opportunities to any student who aspires to a career in the law.
Diversity in the Legal Profession: What we can do to open doors? Women and the Law, June 2007 For many persons of color, the American educational system presents a barrier, rather than a conduit, to the legal profession.
Diversity is a yarn, until women of color are woven into the law firm fabric By Pamela J. Roberts Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 Regardless how accomplished a woman may be, she cannot climb, much less reach the top of, the leadership ladder unless she spends a certain amount of years in her work environment.
Diversity is a yarn, until women of color are woven into the law firm fabric By Pamela J. Roberts Women and the Law, June 2007 Most private firm business models continue to adhere to the “pay-your-dues-and-climb-the-ladder” tradition.
Diversity news Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 The Minority Corporate Counsel Association selected the law firm of Laner, Muchin, Dombrow, Becker Levin and Tominberg, Ltd. as the recipient of the Thomas L. Sager Award for the Midwest Region.
Diversity news Women and the Law, June 2007 The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (“MCCA”) selected the law firm of Laner, Muchin, Dombrow, Becker Levin and Tominberg, Ltd. (“Laner Muchin”) as the recipient of the Thomas L. Sager Award for the Midwest Region.
Diversity Roundtable: Pipeline to the future By Alice M. Noble-Allgire Diversity Leadership Council, June 2007 During the past year, the Standing Committee on Minority and Women Participation has been exploring ways that the Illinois State Bar Association can encourage more minorities traverse the educational pipeline into the legal profession.

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