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1357 ABA Journal Diversity articles.

NCBE updates character report, changes questions related to mental health and substance abuse

The National Conference of Bar Examiners’ updates to its standard Character Report Application template used by many jurisdictions significantly changed questions related to mental health and substance abuse that previously put off many law students from receiving help.

Apr 22, 2026 11:39 AM CDT

DEI law school accreditation standard finds support in comments

An overwhelming majority of comments received regarding the future of a diversity, equity and inclusion accreditation standard for law schools are strongly in favor of keeping—and perhaps strengthening—the embattled requirement.

Apr 17, 2026 12:32 PM CDT

Bar exam prep group Barbri names new co-CEO

Lucie Allen will become a co-CEO of Barbri, a leading bar exam prep company, and will share leadership duties with Steve Fredette, the current CEO and chairman, until he becomes the executive chairman early next year, the company announced Wednesday.

Apr 9, 2026 12:49 PM CDT

This lawyer can fight for you in court or the cage

It’s not that personal injury lawyer Victor Demesmin Jr. was looking for a fight, exactly. But he was certainly looking for a challenge. That’s just the kind of guy he is—so throwing himself into the ring as a bare-knuckle fighter is on brand for the South Florida father of three. “The idea of going into a ring, bare-knuckled, it was the scariest thought for me,” says Demesmin, 37. “And because it was so scary for me, I decided I would have to do it.”

Apr 9, 2026 10:37 AM CDT

Need extra time for the bar exam? You’re not alone

Accommodations allowing candidates to take more time to complete the bar exam are surging around the country, with more than one in eight test-takers in California and more than one in seven in Washington, D.C., granted extra time.

Apr 6, 2026 9:39 AM CDT

Law firm diversity benchmark sees drop in participation

Nearly one-third fewer law offices provided demographic data this year to the National Association for Law Placement, a longtime source of information on diversity in the legal industry, Bloomberg Law reports.

Mar 27, 2026 9:02 AM CDT

Firms hire fewer Black law interns because of conservative pressure

The number of Black summer associates at U.S. law firms has decreased to its lowest level in more than a decade amid a conservative push to end race- and gender-based preferences in school admissions and hiring, including a specific effort against legal internships, according to a story by Bloomberg Law.

Mar 25, 2026 9:24 AM CDT

The best lawyer I know

From as early on as I can remember, my mother told my three sisters and me that we could be anything we wanted—except lawyers. She should have known better.

Mar 24, 2026 11:18 AM CDT

American Bar Association announces 2026 women lawyers of achievement

The American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession has chosen five women lawyers to receive its 2026 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. The award ceremony and reception will take place from 3-5:30 p.m. CDT on Aug. 2 during the ABA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Mar 18, 2026 12:59 PM CDT

Global Assist: Lawyer provides free legal services to women in several countries with foundation honoring late mother

Jayne Fleming is a human rights attorney who has worked with survivors of torture and sexual gender-based violence from Central America, Greece, Jordan and Haiti. She became a lawyer in 2000 and now is the global director of a foundation that she established in 2010 in honor of her late mother. Fleming recently spoke about her career and foundation with the ABA Journal.

Mar 16, 2026 7:05 AM CDT

Women top list of most-cited law faculty, new study finds

Of the top 10 most-cited U.S. legal scholars, seven are women—and that's more than double than in previous years, according to a new study by George Mason University law librarians posted last week.

Mar 13, 2026 9:22 AM CDT

Silent Struggles: Chronic illness, law firm culture and the need for psychological safety

We were in a small conference room—just me and the sixth-year associate. He was explaining an edit to the undisclosed liabilities representation clause of a merger agreement. I could hear his words, but all I could see was blurred black ink on the page.

Mar 11, 2026 9:10 AM CDT

University of Tulsa picks Arizona State University law dean as next president

Stacy Leeds, the dean of the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, has been named the next president of the University of Tulsa, effective July 1.

Mar 10, 2026 9:34 AM CDT

Indicted judge who handcuffed lawyer loses reelection bid; transcript reveals more details from incident

A Texas judge indicted for handcuffing an attorney in her courtroom, followed by a suspension without pay, lost her reelection bid Tuesday. Alicia “Ali” Perez, who ran against Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez of Bexar County, Texas, won with 65% of the vote.

Mar 5, 2026 10:40 AM CST

On a Mission: Dominique Dove calls on difficult past to support female soldiers and veterans

In addition to pushing for equity in the U.S. Army, ABA member Dominique Dove volunteers with organizations that support female veterans. She also raises awareness of issues facing female veterans, including homelessness and sexual trauma, through her participation in pageants. She is reigning Dr. World 2026, which celebrates women with doctoral degrees.

Mar 3, 2026 8:11 AM CST

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Topics: Career & Practice

NCBE updates character report, changes questions related to mental health and substance abuse

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