Lawyers and law firms are uniquely positioned to analyze and advocate to change laws and policies that encourage, perpetuate or allow racial injustice. Many legal services organizations have spent decades working to dismantle systemic racism, and the private bar has historically been involved in serving underrepresented communities and individuals, supporting entities that serve those communities and advancing civil rights causes primarily through law firm pro bono programs. Recent events have affirmed and highlighted the need and responsibility for law firms to do more in partnership with legal services organizations to identify and dismantle structural and systemic racism in the law.
While not a law firm or legal services organization, LFAA is committed to leveraging the resources of the private bar in partnership with legal services organizations to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism, particularly anti-Black racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color and to promote racial equity in the law.