{"id":9915,"date":"2021-04-08T05:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T09:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actec.matrixdev.net\/press-releases\/\/"},"modified":"2024-01-03T00:44:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T05:44:02","slug":"actec-releases-video-on-increasing-diversity-in-the-legal-profession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actec.matrixdev.net\/press-releases\/actec-releases-video-on-increasing-diversity-in-the-legal-profession\/","title":{"rendered":"ACTEC Releases Video on Increasing Diversity in the Legal Profession"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contact: Pamela Goldsmith<\/a>, 202-465-8270<\/p>\n\n\n\n Washington, DC \u2013 April 8, 2021: <\/strong>The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Monday released its video on the importance of improving recruitment and retention of diverse attorneys in the trust and estates field and the law in general, How to Increase Diversity in the Legal Profession<\/em>.<\/a> The video is the College\u2019s fifth in its monthly informational series \u2013 Planning for a Diverse and Equitable Future<\/a>, a project of ACTEC\u2019s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee, funded by The ACTEC Foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognizing the lack of diversity in the legal profession, ACTEC\u2019s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee addresses the issue in this video by highlighting the history of wealth disparity in the United States and the increasing need for attorneys of diverse backgrounds. Though the number of female lawyers has increased to 37 percent over the last ten years, similar gains have not been realized among people of color in the legal profession. Only 5 percent of attorneys are Black, even though they make up 13 percent of the population. Another 5 percent of attorneys are Latinx, though they represent 18.5 percent of the population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vanesa Browne of Bessemer Trust, ACTEC Fellow Stephanie Perry<\/a> of Pasternak & Fidis, and Kalimah White of TD Wealth Management, offer concrete steps for creating a pipeline program and improving recruitment and retention. They describe the difference between serving as a mentor and serving as a sponsor and the importance of both roles in the career of a diverse attorney. ACTEC Fellow Sarah Moore Johnson<\/a> serves as the moderator for this forthright discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am committed to serving as a mentor and sponsor for diverse attorneys in the trust and estates field,\u201d said Terrence M. Franklin, Immediate Past Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee. \u201cI was the first Black Fellow elected to ACTEC. I can attest to the importance of taking active steps to recruit and retain diverse attorneys into ACTEC, into the trust and estates field, and into the legal profession overall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For further information about the Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity series, please visit actec.org\/diversity<\/a>. How to Increase Diversity in the Legal Profession<\/em> can also be shared via YouTube<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n