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ABA Staff Diversity Council — works to promote full participation in the Association by
all staff persons.25
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.26
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.27
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.28 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.”29 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
to its involvement in technical legal assistance projects to advance the rule of law around the world.
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.
27 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL FOR RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline.html.
28 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LEGAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html.
29 Id.
176
all staff persons.25
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.26
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.27
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.28 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.”29 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
to its involvement in technical legal assistance projects to advance the rule of law around the world.
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.
27 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, COUNCIL FOR RACIAL & ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline.html.
28 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, LEGAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND,
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship.html.
29 Id.
176
