Close to 1,400 attorneys responded to a Maine State Bar Association survey on diversity, equity and inclusion.
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Two years ago, the Maine State Bar Association sent a survey relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in Maine’s legal community to around to around 5,550 licensed attorneys here. A total of 1,376 attorneys responded, and the survey results were shared in a report published on Oct. 21.
In response to a question about the frequency of interaction with black, indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) related to their work as an attorney in Maine, only 9% said that happens daily. Some 20% said weekly, 24% said monthly, 18% said yearly and 17% said “other.”
Respondents were also asked whether they had ever experienced or witnessed racially or ethnically motivated discrimination, disparate treatment or problematic comments within the legal realm they believe were made on account or race or ethnicity. The vast majority, 72%, said no, while 28% said yes.
Among individuals who shared comments or descriptions of their experiences or observations, one reported seeing attorneys doing pro bono work “be dismissive and rude to clients that are not white or do not speak English as their first language.” Another reported “casual use of racial/ethnic epithets by clients” that went unaddressed or uncorrected by attorneys.
In her introduction to the 12-page report, Maine State Bar Association Executive Director Angela Armstrong urges members to learn more about the group’s early efforts to educate its members, staff and board; identify Maine’s diverse populations; and begin to reach out to historically underrepresented populations in the state’s legal community.
Maine State Bar Association President Frank Bishop plans to present some of the report’s findings at the group’s annual gathering this week in Augusta, and at its Winter Bar Conference in January in Portland.
“We are also discussing plans to visit members at various locations across the state to make this presentation and encourage discussions about diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal community,” Armstrong says.
“The Diversity Report will be completed annually, and it is our hope to grow the information provided in the report as well as use the data to inform our future educational events and discussion forums,” she adds.
