It’s
hard
to
wrap
my
head
around
the
fact
that
we’re
about
to
hit
the
10-year
anniversary
for
Lawyers
of
Color.
The
organization
founded
in
2013
to
advance
diversity
in
the
legal
industry
has
been
a
critical
component
of
my
coverage
of
legal
industry
diversity
since
I
joined
Above
the
Law.
As
it
happens,
Above
the
Law
had
a
role
—
not
necessarily
a
positive
one
—
in
inspiring
the
non-profit.
When
Lawyers
of
Color
president
Yolanda
Young
got
“laid
off”
after
reporting
an
attorney
using
racial
slurs,
she
sued
Covington
&
Burling.
Her
experience
in
the
old
Above
the
Law
comment
boards,
where
a
small
clique
of
sometimes
virulent
trolls
lurked,
helped
bring
Young
realize
“there
needed
to
be
a
Black
ATL!”
Not
just
as
a
blog
(though
the
now-dormant
On
Being
A
Black
Lawyer
certainly
was
that),
but
as
a
community.
Lawyers
of
Color
replaced
the
daily
blogging
with
putting
out
touchstone
digital
publications
recognizing
BIPOC
legal
professionals
(unlike
some
accolades
that
we
won’t
mention
by
name,
Lawyers
of
Color
never
requires
a
fee
or
sponsorship
to
be
nominated
or
included
in
its
publications
either).
Its
Black
Student’s
Guide
To
Law
Schools
&
Firms
is
a
tremendous
resource
for
students
endeavoring
to
make
this
profession
more
representative
and
the
Law
Firm
Leaders
issue
is
“the
first
ever
comprehensive
listing
of
law
firm
decision
makers
who
are
of
African,
Asian,
Hispanic,
or
Native
American
descent.”
The
upcoming
calendar
for
2023
promises
another
edition
of
those
guides,
as
well
as
a
comprehensive
directory
of
BIPOC
federal
and
state
judges
and
law
clerks,
the
hot
list
of
junior
and
mid-level
attorneys,
and
an
issue
honoring
Capitol
Hill
staffers,
lobbyists,
and
influencers.
But
Lawyers
of
Color
could
always
use
help.
If
your
firm
has
lawyers
who
should
be
included
in
their
guides,
let
them
know!
There’s
no
virtue
in
being
shy
when
it
comes
to
promoting
visibility.
Check
out
the
editorial
calendar
for
2023,
make
note
of
the
nominations
deadlines,
and
reach
out.
Congrats
to
Lawyers
of
Color
on
the
upcoming
anniversary!
Joe
Patrice is
a
senior
editor
at
Above
the
Law
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
Feel
free
to email
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments.
Follow
him
on Twitter if
you’re
interested
in
law,
politics,
and
a
healthy
dose
of
college
sports
news.
Joe
also
serves
as
a
Managing
Director
at
RPN
Executive
Search.