The CMBA's diversity and inclusion initiatives are acknowledged as national model programs and were awarded the first ever Raymond and Sadie T. M Alexander Award for Excellence in Pipeline Diversity by the American Bar Association's Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in 2009. The award recognizes efforts to create and implement pipeline initiatives in a collaborative approach involving more than one segment in the continuum from K-12 to high school to college to law school to practice. The CMBA also received the American Bar Association's Partnership Award for efforts to increase the participation and advancement of lawyers of color in the organized bar and to attract students of color to the legal professions.

The diversity and inclusion initiatives are overseen by the Diversity Circle committee.

Diversity Circle

HELP SUPPORT OUR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES

The CMBA has a special membership category, the Diversity Circle, to provide support for the award-winning initiatives and programs aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and improving the pipeline of minorities entering law school. To become a member of the Diversity Circle, members pay $100 in addition to their regular CMBA dues, or $75 if they have practiced for five years or less or are affiliate members of the CMBA.  Contact the CMBA at 216-696-3525 for more details.