Page 8 - MABA Newsletter

MABA and the Latino Bench Officer’s Association of

Los Angeles 2021 Oath Ceremony (continued)

According to the First Annual Report Card on the Diversity of California’s Legal Profession, prepared in 2020
by the State Bar of California, the number of Latinx attorneys in California has been growing steadily since
1990. The percentage of Latinx attorneys has doubled during that period. Unfortunately, the Latinx community

remains severely underrepresented in the legal community relative to the state’s Latinx population. According to
estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2020, 39% of California’s total population was Latinx. By comparison, in
2020, only 10% of new bar members were Latinx according to the State Bar’s Report Card. There is substantial

work ahead if we want the legal profession to reflect the population of our state.

For the Latinx legal community, the attorney oath ceremony was a celebration of achievement and a reminder
that there is more work to be done to realize the goals of true representation. For our newest bar members, the

attorney oath ceremony marked the beginning of a new career and an opportunity to make a difference in the
Latinx community. The Mexican American Bar Association and the Latino Bench Officers Association of Los
Angeles hope that our combined efforts to promote diversity and true representation in our justice system will
strengthen the rule of law and the fairness our justice system represents.

2021Volume 17 | Issue 1 | Page 8