Divisions, Sections & Committees

Special Committee on Law Faculty and Deans

According to the most recent ABA Profile of the Legal Profession, only 5.8% of lawyers in the U.S. identify with communities that together comprise over 19% of the nation’s population. The shortage of diverse lawyers across the country mirrors the scarcity of representation in legal academia. In early 2023, only 9 of nearly 200 deans of ABA-accredited law schools in the United States were from these underrepresented communities, and estimates place the percentage of full-time faculty at only about 5%.

Law professors and law school deans from diverse backgrounds are leaders of the profession and play crucial roles in educating future generations of lawyers and law-related professionals. They serve as visible role models and mentors for students aspiring to careers in law. Increasing representation within law faculties and administrative ranks can help inspire students who share similar backgrounds and experiences, and strengthen the inclusiveness of the legal education community overall.

The Special Committee will oversee the development of annual nationwide workshops for prospective and current law faculty and aspiring deans, through programs such as the Michael Olivas Summer Writing Institute and the GO LILA summer workshops. The Committee will also collaborate with other initiatives to expand diversity in the legal academy by:

• Organizing in-person “How to Become a Law Professor” workshops at HNBA/VIA conferences
• Matching aspiring faculty and deans with mentors
• Supporting professional development and networking opportunities
• Promoting improved data tracking by national accreditation and membership associations
• Advancing greater inclusion across legal education and leadership