At first glance, the legal profession appears to be growing ever diverse. And undeniably it is. At the same time, as a whole, law continues to be one of the least diverse professions and the strides made in the past twenty years can be described more as “a trickle” than as “growth by leaps and bounds.” Part of the problem is a lack of agreement on the importance of diversity. But the ISBA has made its commitment to diversity very clear.

In its annual report on U.S. law firm diversity, the National Association for Legal Placement reported that merely 4.48 percent of law firm associates were African-American in 2017. And in 2018, while the employment of Asian and Hispanic associates increased, the percentage of black and African-American associates remains lower than it was in 2009, the infamous year when the recession resulted in unprecedented law firm layoffs.¹

With the historical 2016 election of Past President Vincent F. Cornelius, and an increase in the diversity committees, ISBA stands as a national leader in legal diversity initiatives. During the past several years, the ISBA published a report card, publicly acknowledging its lack of diversity, which then prompted the restructuring of committees, and other activities geared toward addressing the issue.

And aside from the 2016 bar election, perhaps the most notable evidence of the ISBA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion was the establishment of the Diversity Leadership Fellowship Award, which serves as a conduit for diverse attorneys to become involved at all levels of ISBA membership. ISBA member Bianca Brown has been re-appointed as a covetous ISBA Diversity Leadership Fellow.

Currently, Bianca serves as an assistant state’s attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Civil Actions Bureau, where she represents Cook County and its agencies in civil rights section 1983 claims, wrongful convictions, and personal injury cases. Prior to joining the State’s Attorney’s office, Bianca served as a regional director and assistant attorney general for the Illinois Attorney General's Office in its Consumer Fraud and Protection Division, where she oversaw the south regional office. She represented litigants in civil litigation matters in trade and commerce involving violations of the Consumer Fraud Act.

Recently, Ms. Brown was appointed to be the American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division’s District Representative for Illinois and Indiana. In 2018, Ms. Brown was elected by the ISBA Board of Governors to fill the ABA House of Delegate “Under 35” seat in Cook County. Additionally, Ms. Brown has evidenced a passion for diversity by being heavily involved in other bar associations. She has been the Black Women Lawyers Association's Recording Secretary and Judicial Evaluation Committee Chair. She also serves as a mentor with Chicago Bar Association's Project Law Track Program in conjunction with the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago.

Q & A with Bianca B. Brown

• What is the purpose of the Diversity Leadership Fellows Program?

Brown: To increase diversity and genuine inclusion in the active membership of the ISBA- with an emphasis on “active.” And the ultimate purpose is to provide a diverse group of future leaders of the ISBA.

• How has the Diversity Leadership Fellows Program been beneficial to you?

Brown: I was appointed as a fellow in 2017. Primarily due to this exposure, I have been afforded opportunities that I did not otherwise think would be available to me. In particular, I have been appointed to be the American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division’s District Representative for Illinois and Indiana. I was also elected by the ISBA Board of Governors to fill the ABA House of Delegate “Under 35” seat in Cook County. So, my role as Fellow has given me a national platform.

• How do you view the ISBA’s Commitment to Diversity?

Brown: The ISBA is intentional about being more inclusive not only among its general membership, but more importantly among the leadership. I am extremely proud to be a member of a bar association with such a strong commitment to inclusion.

• What are your words of advice to minority attorneys?

Brown: Be a change agent. Be an example of what you want to see in the legal profession. Do not be afraid to be present and visible in the “big bar” associations. Being a fellow has allowed me to make my presence known and given me an opportunity to have a seat at the table. As far as professional development, being a member of the ISBA has unequivocally been one of the best career moves for me. Being a fellow and subsequently an ABA Delegate has made me feel like I am truly moving the needle on a larger scale. I am forever grateful.

Requirements of the ISBA Diversity Fellowship Program

• A nomination process will be conducted to select the new fellows. Candidate nominations will come from attorneys who recognize leadership potential in a candidate. Self-nominations are also encouraged in this selection process. Nominations require the submission of the candidate’s name, place of employment, type of practice, year of bar admission, and a brief description of the candidate’s leadership potential.
• A candidate must be a non-member of the ISBA for at least three fiscal years.
• It is envisioned that the nomination class be a group of diverse attorneys, emphasizing candidates who are lawyers who have practiced less than 10 years and are part of an under-represented group. Under-represented groups include women, lawyers with disabilities, and lawyers from under-represented racial, ethnic, sexual orientation or gender identity groups.
• The ISBA president-elect, based on the recommendations of the Diversity Leadership Council, will select three candidates from the nomination class to serve as Fellows for two years.

Privileges of Fellows

The fellows will receive two years of complimentary ISBA membership. Fellows are expected to attend the ISBA Midyear and Annual Meetings. The registration fees for these meetings are complimentary, as are admission to meal functions at these conventions during their two-year fellowship. For business meetings other than those conducted at the Mid-Year and Annual Meetings, Fellows will be reimbursed according to the ISBA reimbursement policy.

REM applauds the ISBA, along with diverse leaders like Bianca C. Brown, who now joins the ranks of fellows who include 2010-2011 Fellow Kim Foxx, who has since been elected as Cook County state’s attorney. For more information on the Diversity Leadership Fellows Program, please contact the ISBA.

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