In 2006, the State Bar of Arizona's Board of Governors appointed a Diversity Task Force to support the Bar’s commitment to diversity as set forth in the State Bar’s 2004-2007 Strategic Plan.  The Task Force was created in response to the recommendations made to the Board by the Bar’s Committee on Minorities and Women in the Law (CMWL). 
The Diversity Task Force was asked to evaluate and implement a number of diversity-related issues highlighted in the CMWL’s Report.  The Task Force was also delegated the responsibility to develop and present recommendations to the Board of Governors regarding: (1) the establishment of a Diversity Director position within the State Bar’s staff infrastructure and (2) the creation and implementation of a State Bar of Arizona  Leadership Institute.

Our Value Statement on Diversity
The Diversity Department is positioned to implement the State Bar’s statement of core value for diversity: This value represents our commitment to ensuring that the legal profession and the justice system reflect the community it serves in all of its social, economic, and geographical diversity.  It is seeking out representatives of underrepresented groups to add their strength to the legal profession and to the advancement of justice in all areas of society.

The State Bar of Arizona therefore values and respects diversity and inclusion, of its employees and the clients that they serve. Valuing our differences in thought, background and perspective is more than our philosophy; it is at the core of our business. Inclusion helps create a culture that embraces the best people from the widest range of talent. The Diversity Department is committed to providing the direction on diversity and inclusion so that the State Bar can offer the best services possible to its internal and external customers.

The Diversity Department partners internally with the Human Resources Department, and externally with sister and specialty Bars to promote respect for all. We believe that partnering with these groups provides direct communications of the needs of our employees and the legal community. Return to Top

Strategic Direction
The State Bar’s strategic direction on diversity is defined by the needs of the organization and its clients. It is in turn guided by the following:

• Aligning diversity with business goals and objectives
• Integration
• External relations
• Communication
• Consulting and executive participation and buy-in
• Relationship building
• Measurement and accountability Return to Top

State Bar In-House Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee is made up of staff volunteers within the State Bar who assist in the planning and promotion of diversity and inclusion activities within the organization.  The committee meets regularly to map out its activities.

The State Bar Diversity Committee is responsible for planning, observing and celebrating diversity and important dates such as the Black Heritage History Month in February, the National Women’s History Month in March, Gay/Lesbian Recognition Month in June, National Hispanic Heritage Month in September, National Disability Awareness Month in October and Native American Heritage Month in November.

For more information, contact the Diversity Department at 602-340-7393, or diversity@staff.azbar.org. Return to Top

The Bar Leadership Institute
Program Overview
The Leadership Institute is a one-year program designed to foster the professional growth and enhance the leadership skills of a diverse group of Arizona attorneys. The purpose is to increase participation and visibility in the State Bar and community-at-large among historically under-represented groups, with an emphasis on racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability and geographic diversity.

The inaugural class, made up of 15 attorneys, convened monthly from September 2007-May 2008.  Participants of this and subsequent classes:

• Receive up to two years of CLE credit;
• Receive leadership and related education and training in an experiential and mentoring learning environment;
• Receive opportunities to foster relationships with the State Bar of Arizona, minority, women, diversity and specialty bar associations, the judicial, legislative and executive branches of State government, and community leaders. 

Program Sessions
Program sessions cover a variety topics ranging from leadership development, ethics and career development, to conversations with judges, government attorneys, in-house counsel and executives, to name a few. Sessions occur monthly starting with an overnight retreat in September.

For more information and application, click here. Return to Top

Bar Organizations
The Diversity Department serves as the liaison to the following Bar committees:

Committee on Minorities and Women in the Law
Committee on Persons with Disabilities in the Legal Profession
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee

The Diversity Department also works with and supports the following Bar organizations throughout Arizona:

Apache County Bar Association
Arizona Asian-American Bar Association
Arizona Black Bar
Arizona Minority Bar Association
Arizona Women Lawyers Association
Black Women Lawyers Association
Cochise County Bar Association
Coconino County Bar Association
Gila County Bar Association
Graham-Greenlee County Bar Association
Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association
Maricopa County Bar Association
Native American Bar Association  Return to Top

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 and organizations to encourage young people, especially people in the underrepresented populations, to consider careers in the law profession.

Objective
The objective is to design programs and activities that sends volunteers to our communities, schools and civic organizations 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. In addition, Arizona’s law schools and Bar organizations such as the National Hispanic Bar Association, Arizona Chapter of the National Bar Association, and Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association have already started individual diversity pipeline programs.

Future program plans
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 Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education
Lateral attorney searches

Strategies
The State Bar of Arizona's diversity activities extend beyond concerns of minorities and women, and also include attorneys with disabilities, as well as lesbian/gay/transgender 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 us to take a more comprehensive approach to achieving our diversity goals, while using resources and volunteers in a more effective and efficient manner.

Another major consideration is to group all pipeline and diversity issues and activities along a single, complete diversity and inclusion competency continuum.

Diversity-In-Action Alliance