Proposals for Legal Organizations and Law Departments to Improve the Well-Being of Lawyers from Underrepresented and Historically Excluded Populations

The SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being produced a report in 2021 that highlighted that lawyers from underrepresented populations were struggling in Massachusetts. More recently - in 2023 - data from a study published on the current state of the well-being of the Commonwealth’s attorneys’ highlighted that “[l]awyers from some groups that have been marginalized reported higher burnout, anxiety, and depression and lower satisfaction with life. This includes lawyers who identify as female; Black/African American; Hispanic/ Latino/a/e; having a disability, or non-heterosexual.”

In response to a call for concrete actions, Working Groups were formed comprised of Massachusetts lawyers working in different types of legal organizations and settings, including members from the Affinity Bar Associations of Massachusetts and members of the Standing Committee. Over 50 lawyers participated in these Working Groups. The Working Groups set out to develop various concrete proposals aimed at helping legal organizations and law departments create structural and cultural change to mitigate harmful experiences faced by lawyers from marginalized populations.

These proposals published by the Affinity Bar Associations of Massachusetts hereby set forth proposals to improve the well-being of Massachusetts lawyers from underrepresented and historically excluded populations. This is intended to be a buffet rather than a prescription and allows for organizations to identify short, medium, and long term goals to ensure that they hire, appreciate, and retain historically marginalized employees.

Join us in taking action!

Affinity Bar Proposals (September 10, 2024).pdf

Download PDF • 1.43MB