The State Bar advances diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession by focusing on key areas of influence, specifically the pipeline into the legal profession, retention and career advancement, and judicial diversity. The State Bar adopted as its diversity definition the reporting categories in Government Code section 12011.5(n): race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, and veteran status.
The State Bar’s DEI work seeks to achieve a statewide attorney population that reflects the rich demographics of the state's population. Goal two of the State Bar’s new Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2022-2027 includes several implementation steps for diversifying the legal profession. In addition, the State Bar's biennial report to the Legislature highlights progress and plans in this area.
Here are examples of current efforts:
The State Bar conducts an annual voluntary Attorney Census to gather demographic information from the state’s licensees including race/ethnicity, gender identity, disability status, and military/veteran status. The census enables the State Bar to track progress toward achieving greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the legal profession, and conduct research on racial disparities in the discipline system. To learn more about the Attorney Census, see Frequently Asked Questions.
The State Bar issues a voluntary survey to all licensees every 4-5 years on workplace sector, leadership roles, and workplace climate to understand issues key to recruitment, advancement, and retention in the legal profession. Known previously as the “Extended Attorney Census,” the survey enables the State Bar, to identify opportunities to further support the State Bar’s DEI priorities. See the 2022 Report Card on the Diversity of California’s Legal Profession for results of the survey conducted in 2021. The next survey will be conducted in 2025.
The State Bar publishes an annual report that describes the diversity of California’s active and newly admitted attorneys. The report compares the diversity of the state’s active attorney population with California’s adult population and also explores changes since 2019, the first year the State Bar began administering the annual Attorney Census.
The State Bar has published sector-specific and general DEI calls to action as a companion to the Diversity Report Card.
The State Bar’s ' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Seal Program recognizes California legal employers that commit to implementing or are already implementing actions that further DEI in the workplace. The program is available to all legal employers that employ California attorneys, including law firms, in-house legal departments, legal academia, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies with attorney staff. For questions about this program, please contact DEILeadershipSeal@calbar.ca.gov.
The State Bar's Council on Access and Fairness (COAF) is comprised of lawyers, judges, and members of the public who advise the Board of Trustees and others on ways to advance strategies and goals for diversity. The COAF annual work plan outlines the ways in which the council's work supports the State Bar's strategic DEI goals.
Recent COAF-developed outreach materials include: