Have you ever convinced your parents to let you borrow DadâÄôs new car? Did you read all the terms and conditions for Facebook when you set up your account? Have you successfully challenged a parking ticket you got on campus? You might be a lawyer and not even know it.
And if you happen to come from a unique cultural background, the news gets better: The legal community is more eager than ever to hire talented people of color.
Our nationâÄôs true diversity is not represented in the legal field today. In the entire American legal system âÄî clerks, judges, lawyers and everything in between âÄî only 13 percent are people of color. Tighten the lens in on lawyers, and only 4 percent are Asian, 5 percent are black and 4 percent are Hispanic.
Of all the lawyers in Minnesota, only 13 percent are people of color, yet the pool of diverse candidates is shrinking. Those with knowledge of various ethnicities and languages combined with a deep knowledge of the legal system will create a force to be reckoned with.
And a more profitable force at that. Recent studies show that companies with the highest level of racial diversity brought in 15 percent more revenue on average compared to companies with the lowest levels of racial diversity. TodayâÄôs law firms and legal departments need lawyers with diverse backgrounds who see the world from a different view.
Here at the University of Minnesota, the Law School helps train students from all backgrounds, experiences and ethnicities. ItâÄôs something theyâÄôve been doing for more than 100 years. They even offer informational tours of their program. You can call 612-625-3487 or visit www.law.umn.edu/prospective/index.html to learn more. And if the University is not in your future for law studies, thereâÄôs a wealth of law schools here in the Twin Cities to choose from.
Experts agree that greater diversity will lead to a fairer legal system. By becoming a lawyer, you could serve the community by doing something quite noble. If it has even been just a fleeting thought in your mind, you owe yourself, and the future of our legal system, a little time to explore this field and consider whether itâÄôs right for you. Visit our website to take that first step.