In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the upcoming Pathways to the Legal Profession Diversity Summit, scheduled for next Thursday at Central Washington University. The event aims to gather diverse perspectives and encourage participation from those not yet registered. The summit is part of ongoing efforts to enhance diversity within the legal profession in Washington State.

The meeting also outlined a timeline for presenting a new diversity plan, with a draft expected by the end of the month. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide input before the plan is presented for its first reading at the January meeting. Officials expressed optimism about engaging the Board of Governors in soliciting further feedback.

Dr. Ben Garvey, co-founder and research lead at KGR Plus C, presented findings from a comprehensive membership demographic study. This multi-phase research project, which has been underway for nearly two years, involved extensive stakeholder conversations and a large-scale survey sent to 40,000 members of the Washington State Bar Association. The survey garnered nearly 2,000 responses, providing valuable insights into the experiences of legal professionals in the state.

Dr. Garvey emphasized the importance of understanding the demographic makeup of the membership and the shared experiences of its members. The study aimed to assess whether the membership is representative of the broader community and to identify areas for improvement in diversity and inclusion within the legal field. The findings will inform future initiatives aimed at fostering a more inclusive legal profession in Washington.