Diversity Matters

The newsletter of the ISBA’s Diversity Leadership Council

2007 Articles

Articulating the business case for inclusion By Jane DiRenzo Pigott 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.
Chair’s column 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 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.
Diversity in the Legal Profession: ISBA’s commitment continues 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? 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 is a yarn, until women of color are woven into the law firm fabric By Pamela J. Roberts 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 news 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 Roundtable: Pipeline to the future By Alice M. Noble-Allgire 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.
Excellence and strength through diversity: The positive impact on the future of our profession By Michele M. Jochner June 2007 Increasing diversity within the legal profession not only contributes significantly to the quality of the profession, but also serves to enhance the public’s confidence in, and respect for, the legal system. As members of the legal profession, it is our duty and obligation to assume the lead in assuring that there is gender, racial, ethnic and sexual orientation diversity within our ranks.
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and its mission By Cheryl Niro June 2007 The Illinois Supreme Court took a dramatic step forward by creating the Commission on Professionalism.
Mission Possible: Black Law Students Association at SIU Initiative By Melodi Green June 2007 BLSA, which is an organization comprised of a small group of African American and other minority law students, has targeted minority elementary, middle, and high school students, most of whom will come from low income and educationally deprived communities in Illinois and surrounding areas.
Summary of the 2006 Diversity Luncheon By Sonni Choi Williams June 2007 On September 18, 2006, the Peoria County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee held its third annual Diversity Luncheon and outdid itself again.