From the Director

Resource Guide to Diversity and Bar Success

The ABA’s recently published data highlighting disparities in bar exam pass rates by race point out the need for renewed focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion all along the professional “admission to admission” continuum — from entry into legal education through entry into the profession — and beyond.

This Fall 2021 issue of Raising the Bar serves as a Resource Guide for those exploring salient research findings regarding diversity and attorney licensing, and serves as a complement to our Fall 2020 issue that featured original pieces on the intersection of race and licensing. Like the Summer 2021 Raising the Bar, which included a reference list for key barrelated studies, this issue’s resource list provides a starting point for scholars, researchers, bar examiners, thought leaders, and other stakeholders considering changes that might be made in our professional licensing process to diversify the profession.

We are also proud to feature in this issue a Distinguished Commentary from Erin Freiburger, Victor D. Quintanilla and Sam Erman, sharing critically important findings about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on bar exam performance, and widening disparities between advantaged and disadvantaged test-takers. I look forward to engaging in robust discussion with all of you, and invite you, as you review the resources listed in this issue, to share additional citations for future resource lists by emailing me at Success@accesslex.org.

Sara Berman, Esq.

Director, Programs for Academic and Bar Success AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence® Visit the Director’s SSRN author page Visit the AccessLex SSRN page