Spotlighting People Who Break Barriers and Shatter Stereotypes
We can demonstrate that while others may attempt to limit us through stereotypes or “underwhelming” expectations, we refuse to be victims of their biases.
This past summer, I had the pleasure of meeting several outstanding law students, newly graduated and ready to enter the profession. They do so at what is perhaps one of the most challenging periods faced by the country in the past five decades-a time of war and political turmoil, environmental disasters, and continuing threat of terrorism. Yet, what was so encouraging about the time spent with these young lawyers was their optimism for the future and desire to contribute to the profession in meaningful ways.
None were so naive as to believe that their early career paths will be without bumps and challenges. However, these new lawyers were too busy looking ahead to dwell on the many negative messages that surround all of us. They are the future of the profession. They join us at a time when we are all balancing increased work responsibilities, demands of our personal lives, and our own uncertainties about national security. In my opinion, we experienced lawyers owe it to our newer colleagues to welcome them into a profession that is better than the one that we entered years ago.
While all of us cannot hope to be role models to the same degree as the subjects of this issue’s cover story, Cornell and Paula Boggs, we can all follow their example in our own way. We can make time to help others guide and balance their careers. We can set high standards of excellence in the way that we carry ourselves personally and professionally. We can demonstrate that while others may attempt to limit us through stereotypes or “underwhelming” expectations, we refuse to be victims of their biases. This is what parents like Mrs. Janice Barber (the Boggs’ mother) teach their children and they are lessons not to lose sight of as we mature into adulthood. Please be sure to read more about this inspiring American family.
You also won’t want to miss the results of MCCA’s 2006 Survey of Fortune 500 General Counsel. We are pleased to report increasing numbers of lawyers of color ascending the ranks to the chief legal officer role of America’s top companies. They too are inspirational.
Finally, those who have participated with MCCA for a while have likely heard that last year the association launched a new scholarship program, The Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Scholarship Program, named in honor of MCCA’s founder and first executive director. Well, our inaugural class of scholars and fellows successfully completed their first year of law school and they had the opportunity to do some pretty great things over the past few months. We checked in with them to hear first-hand their first impressions of the profession and find out how they spent their summers. And, in the next issue MCCA will announce the law students selected as our second class of scholars and fellows. So, stay tuned!
Veta T. Richardson
From the September/October 2006 issue of Diversity & The Bar®