Diversity in the ranks of ATLA.

In 1992, ATLA created a minority caucus of its own. Frank Herrera Jr., an attorney who practices law in San Antonio, Texas, was one of several members who helped establish it.

"The Board of Governors recognized minority members' needs," he said. "Its decision [to establish the caucus] empowered a segment of the legal community."

More than 2,000 members strong, the Minority Caucus helps the association's minority members improve their trial skills by recommending and developing education programs. The seminars--tailored to the specific needs of minority lawyers and attorneys who represent minority clients--tackle such issues as race discrimination, gender bias, and juror prejudice.

The caucus also lends a hand in stimulating minority membership. It reaches out to law schools and minority bar associations to recruit new ATLA members and encourages its current members to take leadership roles in the association. The Minority Caucus works on joint programs with ATLA sections and other special interest groups. It also works in cooperation with other minority lawyer groups, including the Hispanic Bar Association, National Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and Native American Bar Association.

Minority lawyers are automatically enrolled in the caucus when they join ATLA. The caucus meets several times a year to discuss issues of importance to its members. Benefits of caucus membership include a newsletter, list server, and online directory.

Elections for officers are held during the annual convention. Herald J.A. Alexander, who practices law in Atlanta, chairs the caucus. Robert Burford of Raleigh, North Carolina, is the immediate past chair. Each state elects one minority ATLA member to serve as a delegate to the caucus for one year. The Minority Caucus is also represented on the association's Board of Governors.

Each year the caucus awards scholarships to ATLA law student members and grants to attorney members. The Convention Scholarship, awarded yearly to as many as five law student members, subsidizes winners' annual convention registration fees. The Richard D. Hailey ATLA Law Student Scholarship awards up to $1,000 in tuition assistance to eligible first- and second-year minority law student members. The Annual Convention Grant subsidizes registration fees for minority attorney members who have been in practice five years or less and have never attended an ATLA convention.

For more information about the Minority Caucus and its scholarships and grants, contact ATLA's staff liaison, Michelle Haynes, at [e-mail]; [phone] or [phone], ext. 278; or go to www.atla.org/members/ minority.ht.