Lawyers who are racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to be dissatisfied with their overall professional position, the complexity of their work, access to clients and advancement opportunities, according to a survey of active attorneys in the Denver area.
A total of 938 lawyers responded to the survey.
Among them were members of the Sam Cary Bar Association, which is a group of black attorneys; the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association; the Colorado Indian Bar Association; and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Also receiving surveys were members of the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered Bar Association.
The survey results were released Monday.
On Sept. 20, the Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations plans the first Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit, to be held at Invesco Field at Mile High. It will address issues raised by the survey.
Among those participating will be law professors from across the nation; federal and state judges; partners in various law firms; and Troy Eid, U.S. attorney for Colorado.
Lawyers from the minority groups – referred to as “ethnically and racially diverse attorneys” in the survey – felt more isolated in their organizations and reported discrimination by their clients.
Female lawyers reported being less satisfied with access to clients, and with advancement and mentoring opportunities.
The gay, lesbian and bisexual lawyers were more likely to report dissatisfaction with the complexity of their work, access to clients and advancement opportunities.
The report noted that both racially and ethnically diverse lawyers and attorneys from the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered Bar Association were more likely to report that they are pursuing other job opportunities or planning to stay at their current organizations for two years or less.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
