July 1, 2022 Letters
Minority Lawyers
Although I am not in favor of voluntary bar associations created based on gender and race, female Black lawyers in Palm Beach County have done so. The exclusionary parochialism is too obvious; however, the organization may help to further their legal careers.
Blacks are an estimated 13.4% of the U.S. population. According to the ABA in 2021, male and female Blacks were 4.8% of all attorneys in 2011 and 4.7% in 2021. Seventy Black women are federal judges or 2% of all federal judges. A Black woman has been recently confirmed to ascend to the U.S. Supreme Court. The larger Hispanic population in the U.S. or 18.5%, is represented in the legal profession as 3.9% in 2011 and 4.8% in 2021. Asian population is 5.9%. Asian lawyers went from 1.7% in 2011 to 2.5% in 2021. Miami has the highest percentage of law firm partners of color, or 2%. The biggest problem for female, Black attorneys is the high rate of attrition in leaving law firms.