Minorities are often discussed as victims of discrimination in the criminal justice system, but the discrimination extends beyond arrest and incarceration. Minorities face employment discrimination as...

Minorities are often discussed as victims of discrimination in the criminal justice system, but the discrimination extends beyond arrest and incarceration. Minorities face employment discrimination as attorneys and judges. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, about 88% of lawyers are white, one of the highest percentage of all professions. According to the National Association for Law Placement, only 5.6% of lawyers who hold top leadership positions at law firms are nonwhite and fewer than 2% of law firm partners are black. The reasons given for the lack of nonwhite attorneys include: minorities seek better paying positions, there is a lack of qualified nonwhite candidates, cultural barriers leave blacks unprepared to advance, and outright discrimination against black lawyers by law firms and corporate businesses. What do you think accounts for these data and what can be done to increase the employment and advancement of nonwhites in law and the courts?