MBA Commitment to Diversity
The MBA Equality Committee works to promote equality in the profession and justice system and identifies ways in which the MBA can promote diversity in the practice of law.
MBA Statement of Diversity Principles
The MBA invites you to sign on to the Statement of Diversity Principles. The statement was adopted by the MBA Board in April 2009. It presents an opportunity for all legal employers - law firms big and small, governments, businesses, nonprofits and everyone else - to publicly acknowledge their commitment to developing the diversity of the legal community in Oregon. The statement is offered as a vehicle to continue and expand upon our conversation about diversity in the bar - diversity as an encompassing idea, important to all of us.
Click here for a printable form. Please send a copy of your signed statement to the MBA. Click here to sign online.
Click here to see who has signed the Statement of Diversity Principles
Breaking Barriers: Diversifying Access and Careers in the Law
The MBA Equality Committee hosted a panel presentation on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at Portland State University entitled "Breaking Barriers: Diversifying Access and Careers in the Law." The purpose was to encourage diversity in the legal profession by giving students interested in legal careers the opportunity to hear how lawyers chose law as a career, what hurdles they faced and how they overcame those hurdles. If you know of a school that would like to have a similar presentation, let us know. Panelists were Elisa Dozono, Ken Mitchell-Phillips, Nathan Vasquez and the Honorable Youlee You, and was moderated by Eric Dahlin.
Message from Oregon Supreme Court Justice Paul J. De Muniz
Oregon is a diverse state – more diverse than some people across the country think. Having grown up in Northeast Portland, I was able to experience first hand the benefits of living in a diversecommunity. I count myself as lucky to have had that opportunity, and I draw on those experiences regularly.
Today, of course, Oregon is more diverse than ever, and so is Multnomah County. We are fortunate in this state to have a judicial system and an integrated state bar that are committed to maximizing the potential that comes from having so many people with richly divergent backgrounds and experiences. And we are fortunate to have in the Multnomah Bar Association a progressive group of lawyers who come together not only for the betterment of the legal establishment in which its lawyer members serve, but also and more importantly to improve the whole of the communities in which they live. I applaud the work that the MBA has done, is doing, and I know will continue to do to promote diversity in our profession and equality in our society.
Links and Useful Resources
MBA Equality Committee Multnomah Lawyer articles
Report of the Oregon Supreme Court Task Force on Racial/Ethnic Issues in the Judicial System
1998 Report on Gender Fairness in the Judicial System
Oregon Supreme Court Implementation Committee: A Commitment to Fairness January 1996 Progress Report
2001 OSB, MBA and OWLS Convocation on Equality Manual
OSB Report on Access to the Courts by People with Disabilities
Minority Law Associations and Specialty Bars
Hispanic National Bar Association
Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Oregon Minority Lawyers Association