Diversity discussion must include the disabled

The Nov. 20 article titled "Law firms get mixed reviews on diversity" accurately describes the referenced published studies. Unfortunately, those studies of diversity in law firms omit the disabled. The failure to include the disabled in diversity discussions provides an incomplete analysis of law firm practices. It continues the explicit and/or implicit bias against the disabled.

The National Association of Attorneys with Disabilities (NAAD) was created to promote justice, equity and opportunities for persons with disabilities. The referenced study, by the National Association for Law Placement, and commentary in the article indicate law firms are recruiting more minorities than ever before. However, they are absolutely silent as to recruiting of the disabled. Thus the picture painted on diversity in law firm hiring is incomplete and likely more discouraging than as suggested in the article.

By failing to mention the disabled, a balanced diversity discussion is lacking. Los Angeles Assistant Public Defender David Marsh and I worked on Assembly Bill 1005 that amended Government Code Section 12011.5. That amendment, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, added the disabled and veterans to demographic data being collected on judicial applicants already (ethnicity, race, gender identity and sexual orientation).

A reader of the law firm diversity article may believe only the referenced groups face discrimination at law firms or are even worth discussing. According to available literature, the smallest non-included group in the practice of law is the disabled. http://www.nalp.org/dec09disabled.

The diversity article confirms that more needs to be done about the groups that were actually reported on. However, the disabled should be included in that discussion. Let's avoid the known impact of "out of sight out of mind." Time to shine a bright light on the need to increase diversity for all effected groups in law firms. Failure to do so only perpetuates historic discrimination prevalent at law firms.

- Peter A Lynch

Cozen O'Connor