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ABA Staff Diversity Council — works to promote full participation in the Association by
all staff persons.24
ABA Hispanic Commission — addresses key legal issues facing Hispanics throughout the
U.S. such as voting rights, immigration, civil rights, and access to the courts.25
The ABA Council on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline (Pipeline
Council) works to increase the number of diverse students who are on track to becoming
lawyers.26 The ABA also offers Legal Opportunity Scholarships to diverse law students,
providing $15,000 of financial assistance over the course of their law school career.27 Former
ABA President William G. Paul started the scholarship fund in order to encourage racially and
ethnically diverse students to attend law school. As Paul said: “We can best serve society if
members of the legal profession come from all segments of the population, reflecting the
diversity of the United States — and financial aid during law school must be a vital component
of any effort to increase diversity in the profession.”28 The first students received Scholarship
awards during the 2000-2001 academic year. Since the program was created, 360 students from
across the country (at 20 students a year for 18 years) have received an ABA Legal Opportunity
Scholarship. These exceptional scholarship recipients have overcome adversity and gone on to
practice at some of the most prestigious firms and organizations across the country. The
scholarship program is important not only to the future of the Association, but also to the legal
profession as a whole.
Goal IV: Advance the Rule of Law.
International law was the focus of one of the first seven committees established by the
Association. From its inception, the ABA recognized the importance of international law in
laying the foundation for what would become the largest voluntary professional organization in
the world. The ABA International Law Committee eventually became the ABA Section of
International Law (SIL) and has focused on its mission: advancing the rule of law in the world
and enhancing the quality and outreach of the legal profession worldwide.
SIL has been a key player in many important international legal issues throughout its
history, including the relationship between international treaties and the U.S. Constitution, and
the creation of institutions like the Permanent Court of International Justice, the World Trade
Organization, the United Nations, and their predecessor bodies. The SIL was also instrumental in
the creation of a number of international bar associations and legal organizations, including the
Inter-American Bar Association, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, the American Society of
International Law, and the International Bar Association. SIL’s international perspective also led
24 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, STAFF DIVERSITY COUNCIL, http://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/aba-staff-diversity-
council.html.
25 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON HISPANIC LEGAL RIGHTS,
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/commission_on_hispanic_legal_rights_responsibilities.html.
26 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL FOR RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline.html.
27 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LEGAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html.
28 Id.
157
all staff persons.24
ABA Hispanic Commission — addresses key legal issues facing Hispanics throughout the
U.S. such as voting rights, immigration, civil rights, and access to the courts.25
The ABA Council on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Educational Pipeline (Pipeline
Council) works to increase the number of diverse students who are on track to becoming
lawyers.26 The ABA also offers Legal Opportunity Scholarships to diverse law students,
providing $15,000 of financial assistance over the course of their law school career.27 Former
ABA President William G. Paul started the scholarship fund in order to encourage racially and
ethnically diverse students to attend law school. As Paul said: “We can best serve society if
members of the legal profession come from all segments of the population, reflecting the
diversity of the United States — and financial aid during law school must be a vital component
of any effort to increase diversity in the profession.”28 The first students received Scholarship
awards during the 2000-2001 academic year. Since the program was created, 360 students from
across the country (at 20 students a year for 18 years) have received an ABA Legal Opportunity
Scholarship. These exceptional scholarship recipients have overcome adversity and gone on to
practice at some of the most prestigious firms and organizations across the country. The
scholarship program is important not only to the future of the Association, but also to the legal
profession as a whole.
Goal IV: Advance the Rule of Law.
International law was the focus of one of the first seven committees established by the
Association. From its inception, the ABA recognized the importance of international law in
laying the foundation for what would become the largest voluntary professional organization in
the world. The ABA International Law Committee eventually became the ABA Section of
International Law (SIL) and has focused on its mission: advancing the rule of law in the world
and enhancing the quality and outreach of the legal profession worldwide.
SIL has been a key player in many important international legal issues throughout its
history, including the relationship between international treaties and the U.S. Constitution, and
the creation of institutions like the Permanent Court of International Justice, the World Trade
Organization, the United Nations, and their predecessor bodies. The SIL was also instrumental in
the creation of a number of international bar associations and legal organizations, including the
Inter-American Bar Association, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, the American Society of
International Law, and the International Bar Association. SIL’s international perspective also led
24 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, STAFF DIVERSITY COUNCIL, http://www.americanbar.org/about_the_aba/aba-staff-diversity-
council.html.
25 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COMMISSION ON HISPANIC LEGAL RIGHTS,
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/commission_on_hispanic_legal_rights_responsibilities.html.
26 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL FOR RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline.html.
27 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LEGAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html.
28 Id.
157
