Resources and Efforts to Dismantle Systemic Oppression and Inequities in the Legal Profession
The SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being prioritizes supporting lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds and working to mitigate the issues that affect their ability to thrive in the profession. As a result, the Committee is dedicated to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession, which is crucial to our individual and collective well-being. Read our DEI Statement, here.
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On February 4, 2021 the SJC Standing Committee released a Report Summarizing Affinity Bar Town Hall Meetings. The Report provides a summary of seven meetings the Committee conducted in the second half of 2020 to hear from attorneys and law students from underrepresented, historically excluded, and systemically oppressed populations about their recent experiences of Massachusetts law practice and culture.
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In November 2024, the Massachusetts Affinity Bar Associations released proposals to enhance the well-being of lawyers historically underrepresented and marginalized in the legal profession, and to dismantle systemic inequalities.
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Our work identifies the importance and necessity of DEI-related resources for members of the MA legal profession. You can find a listing of local, state, and national DEI resources below. This list is meant to be a “living document” with regular additions and revisions. If you would like to suggest additional resources, please feel free to email Committee Director Heidi Alexander at heidi@lawyerwellbeingma.org. Please note that, as a public body, the SJC Standing Committee cannot list specific private, for-profit resources or individual consultants.
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