Minority progress in legal profession may be slowing, ABA reports.

Minority representation in the legal profession is significantly lower than in most other professions, according to a recent report by the American Bar Association's Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. The report also says that minority entry into the profession has slowed considerably since 1995.

Miles to Go 2000: Progress of Minorities in the Legal Profession is based on data from academic, government, professional, and popular sources and covers information released as recently as May. The report was researched and prepared by Elizabeth Chambliss, research director at the Harvard Law School Program on the Legal Profession. According to the report, its goal is "to provide a current, comprehensive picture of the status of minorities in the profession and to use this information to help the profession set an agenda for effective future action."

Chambliss's research showed that the number of minorities enrolled in law schools is holding steady at about 20 percent. However, this enrollment had been growing steadily between 1985 and 1995. In the past five years, minority enrollment grew only 0.4 percent--the smallest five-year increase in 20 years. In addition, minority enrollment dropped significantly in top public law schools in states banning affirmative action.

After law school, minority graduates "are more likely than whites" to begin legal careers in government, public interest law, and business, and less likely to enter private practice, the report says. Minority women are especially likely to work in government or public interest jobs. However, the percentage of minority law graduates entering the for-profit sector has increased.

Minority representation in upper-level jobs remains low, especially in the for-profit sector. The report says that minorities represent only 3 percent of law partners in most cities and 2.8 percent of general counsels in Fortune 500 companies.

Chambliss maintains that there are still obstacles to "full and equal" participation by minorities in the profession. These include changes in law school admission criteria, the lack of access to clients, and the absence of mentoring for minority associates. The report concludes with recommendations to bar associations, law schools, and legal employers for promoting participation of minorities in the profession.

Robert Burford, of Raleigh, North Carolina, vice chair of ATLA's Minority Caucus, said the caucus "is working to increase minority participation in ATLA at all levels." Although minority representation in ATLA is small--about 3.5 percent of membership--it is increasing. "This is a good sign," he said, "especially in light of the overall trend in the legal profession.

"We recognize there is a problem [with minority representation in the profession] that requires action by as many people as possible," Burford said. The caucus's efforts include its sponsorship of the Richard D. Hailey Law Student scholarships, which provide financial assistance to law-student members of ATLA who are minorities and express an interest in trial advocacy.

The ABA report is an update of an earlier report published in 1998. In addition to current data, the update includes a comparative analysis of the changes in the last two years. For a copy of the report, call [phone] or visit the commission's Web site at www.abanet.org/minorities.