Editor’s note

In this issue, THE CHALLENGE presents several articles that we hope highlight issues of interest to REM section members.

Most lawyers are aware that finding a mentor is both important and necessary to a legal career, and mentoring opportunities are especially important for minority lawyers. But how do you do it? And how do you do it right? Ultimately, finding the right mentor may take some trial and error, for both mentors and mentees. We hope that this issue puts a few more resources on your radar.

Non litigators may not recognize the term “Batson challenge” or remember reading Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986), in law school. But whether we use the term in practice or not, ultimately the case has had an undeniable impact on both the perceived and the actual administration of justice in American courts. We hope that this article provides an interesting reintroduction to the case and how it is used effectively in the courtroom.

Finally, many family law practitioners may work for years without encountering the Indian Child Welfare Act, which governs child custody proceedings and is intended to prevent Native American children from being removed from their families. An understanding of the workings and challenges of the ICWA would be useful to any attorney whose cases may involve custody or adoption disputes.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Minority Bar CLE Conference in June! 