|
Purpose: The Los Angeles
County Bar Association (LACBA) seeks to meet the professional
needs of Los Angeles lawyers and advance the administration of
justice in the community.
To that end, LACBA is creating
an Office of Diversity & Community Partnerships to provide
leadership and foster partnerships among the legal profession
and communities throughout Los Angeles County to enhance the
inclusion and retention of diverse persons in meaningful and
rewarding roles in society—particularly the legal profession.
Background: The
American Bar Association and the State Bar of California have
done pioneering work to increase diversity in the legal
profession. Both organizations have looked to the results of
pertinent research; created collaborative partnerships among
legal, business and education leaders; and identified programs
currently operating at the national, state and local level.
The result of this pioneering work is:
• Conceptualization of the pipeline from elementary education
through advancement and success in the legal profession and
judiciary (diversity pipeline) and
• Identification of replicable model programs at each stage of
the pipeline that promote inclusion and retention of diverse
persons (model programs).
LACBA built upon these efforts by holding a Diversity Summit
in June 2007. The Summit brought together education, legal
profession and community leaders from throughout Los Angeles
County; introduced the diversity pipeline concept; and
explored possible local solutions, including the model
programs. One of the key recommendations flowing from this
Diversity Summit was that LACBA take a leadership role in
fostering and coordinating diversity pipeline programs in Los
Angeles County.
Role of LACBA’s Office of
Diversity & Community Partnerships: This new office will
enhance the inclusion and retention of diverse persons in
meaningful and rewarding roles in society—particularly the
legal profession—by:
• Serving as a leader on increasing diversity in the legal
profession and as a resource for partnerships within the
community to develop innovative programs along the pipeline to
the legal profession
• Building lasting partnerships with individuals,
organizations and communities that are committed to increasing
diversity throughout the pipeline to the legal profession
• Fostering opportunities for the creation and success of
diversity programs throughout Los Angeles County at all points
along the pipeline to the legal profession
• Facilitating communication among the legal profession and
individuals, organizations and communities that are conducting
diversity pipeline programs
• Participating in the local, State and national dialogue on
issues impacting and supporting the pipeline to the legal
profession
• Engaging learning communities that are involved in or
supporting research and evaluation of the pipeline to the
legal profession
Director’s General Responsibility: To foster the
creation and success of diversity programs throughout Los
Angeles County at all points along the legal profession
pipeline. The Director is the leader, architect, public
representative and engineer of the process by which the office
achieves its purpose.
Director’s Specific
Responsibilities:
• To articulate effectively
the need for diversity pipeline programs throughout Los
Angeles County and the benefits of communities partnering to
create and conduct them
• To identify and increase awareness of existing pipeline
programs and activities (particularly their best practices),
both locally and nationally
• To conceptualize and foster the creation of new diversity
pipeline programs and activities throughout Los Angeles County
• To bring communities together and encourage partnerships to
create and support pipeline programs and activities throughout
Los Angeles County
• To identify and help mobilize resources to support and
sustain pipeline programs and activities throughout Los
Angeles County
• To serve as a clearinghouse, communications center and
resource for those engaged in this work
• To help coordinate the activities of those engaged in this
work in Los Angeles County
• To help develop appropriate criteria for measuring the
outcomes and effectiveness of diversity pipeline programs
• To help evaluate the effectiveness of programs and
activities, as well as the overall progress being made with
regard to diversity of the legal profession in Los Angeles
County, and to publicize the findings to the public, the
stakesholders, and those involved in this work
• To encourage LACBA entities to become involved in this work
and to provide support for their doing so
Director’s Reporting Relationship: This is a senior
level position that reports to and works directly with the
Executive Director.
Requirements: The
successful candidate will have:
• An undergraduate or
graduate college degree or equivalent in a relevant field
• A demonstrated sensitivity to diversity and inclusion
• A demonstrated ability to communicate and work effectively
with a broad range of individuals and organizations at all
stages of the pipeline, including:
o Public and private schools, colleges, university and law schools
o Local, county, state and federal government, including the courts
o The legal profession
o Businesses
o Associations
o Community organizations
• A demonstrated ability to draw disparate people together,
create meaningful partnerships and motivate them to work
towards a common community goal
• A demonstrated ability to conceptualize and manage complex
projects
• A demonstrated ability to evaluate the effectiveness of
projects
• A demonstrated passion for enhancing diversity and inclusion
in the legal profession
• Five or more years of experience in a diversity or community
partnership position, or significant other experience,
indicative of success in this position
Preferences: The successful candidate may have:
• Knowledge of lawyers, the
legal profession and bar associations
• Knowledge of diversity pipeline programs and activities
• A law degree
• Knowledge of statistics and data management and analysis
Compensation: $100,000+ per annum. The specific salary
will depend on the successful candidate’s knowledge,
experience and demonstrated abilities. Please email a cover
letter and resume to
employment@lacba.org Applications will be accepted
through April 18, 2008. EOE. |
