President Asks Legal Profession to ‘Recommit' to Diversity

President Bill Clinton spoke to more than 200 guests in the White House's East Room last month, calling on them to continue to support diversity in the legal community.
"I ask you to recommit yourselves … to fighting discrimination, to revitalizing our poorest communities, and to giving people an opportunity to serve in law firms who would not otherwise have it," Clinton said.
The call to action marked the 36th anniversary of the first presidential gathering of the nation's top lawyers and legal scholars by President John F. Kennedy.
During his address, Clinton said the Department of Justice and the White House Office on the President's Initiative for One America would continue their support for greater diversity in the nation's law firms, bar associations, and within the ranks of lawyers.
Representatives from the American Bar Association and the American Corporate Counsel Association said they would also commit their organizations to generate greater diversity, according to the Michigan Daily, the University of Michigan student newspaper.
It also  was announced that the nation's leading law firms would commit to the American Bar Association's pro bono standard — where those firms' lawyers will spend about 3 percent of their time on pro bono work — with full pay.
Additionally, the American Association of Law Schools will strengthen community service programs by providing law students with chances to volunteer their legal skills in their communities.
Clinton said during his address that he expressed "respectful disagreement" with court decisions that have abolished affirmative action programs.
Also earlier this month, Clinton announced that the Department of of Education has awarded $120 million  to a new program aimed at helping disadventaged young people prepare for college. The grants were the first 185 awarded to colleges in 21 states.
The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program, or GEAR UP, will allow agencies and colleges to create mentorship and counseling programs and start college preparatory curriculums to encourage students to go to college. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) led efforts to pass the early college outreach program. Grants totaling $75 million were awarded to 164 partnerships between colleges and middle and junior high schools. The remaining $42 million went to state programs in 21 states.