ABA Midyear Meeting 2016: Bar Associations Collaborate to Increase Diversity

In this Special Report, Legal Talk Network producer Laurence Colletti sits down with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association President Jin Hwang, partner at Cooper & Dunham Robert Maldonado, and commercial litigator for Goldman Antonetti & Cordova Carlos Rodriguez-Vidal to discuss improving diversity in the administration of justice and the judicial system. Outside of the ABA there are national bars of color, such as NAPABA and the National Native American Bar Association, that work to promote diversity in all segments of the legal profession. Carlos Rodriguez-Vidal kicks off this episode by explaining why it is so important that bars of color work together to bring about positive change and why this endeavor is not driven by individual self-interest. The conversation shifts to a discussion of the importance of mentoring young lawyers and why all of the guests feel like they have broader responsibilities as lawyers of color who have found success in their careers. Finally, the conversation wraps up with a discussion about steps that all lawyers can take to get involved and how increasing diversity throughout the judicial system benefits society at large.

Carlos Rodriguez-Vidal is a commercial litigator in San Juan Puerto Rico for the law firm Goldman Antonetti & Cordova. He graduated with a bachelor of arts in philosophy and Spanish from Haverford College and received his J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Jin Hwang is the president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She graduated with a bachelor of arts in French Studies and psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law.

Robert Maldonado is a partner at Cooper & Dunham. He received his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his J.D. from Stanford Law School.