Asian American attorneys have made huge strides in the legal profession in recent decades, but we’re still underrepresented at the highest levels of our profession, an issue that organizations like NAPABA and others have recognized and been addressing. For the benefit of our members, the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago hopes to address through some new efforts of our own this bar year.
For background, while about 13 percent of associates at law firms are Asian American, the percentage of law-firm partners is much lower – about 5 percent of partners, according to NALP data. And while the percentages have gone up over time, the gap between associates and partners remains large.
Why this gap exists is complicated, but the 2022 Portrait Project found that the two most widely perceived barriers to carrier advancement are (1) the lack of formal leadership training programs and (2) inadequate access to mentors and contacts.
AABA will attempt to address these barriers over the coming year through some programs that we’re developing, including efforts specifically for mid-level attorneys looking to advance to senior positions such as partnerships.
We plan to discuss these at a kick-off reception in early October.
Please reach out if you’d like to get involved or would like more information. You can email us at chicago.aaba@gmail.com.
