from the editor
By Angela L. Dixon Law Office of Angela L. Dixon, PLLC
Associate Editors
W
Embracing Diversity
their experiences and shared their thoughts on sevhen I learned of the themes for the eral topics, including challenges minority attorneys bar year, I was especially excited face and what changes can be made to hopefully reabout the theme for this issue, Dimove those challenges. The attorneys also give advice versity in the Profession. Oftentimes, on how attorneys can make their practice more fulfilwe do not take the time to discuss ing. I must acknowledge Kimberly A. Chojnacki who and highlight our differences. Diversity encompasses organized this effort doing everything from soliciting so many different things, but we certainly associate participants to writing the questions and it with race, gender, sexual orientation, final articles. The next article comes from culture and ethnicity. Some suggest that Oftentimes, Elizabeth Campbell who contributes a the legal profession is one of the least diFarrah Martinez piece on overcoming barriers to recruit verse in the country. While that may be we do not Attorney at diverse talent. She provides statistics and disheartening, efforts are being made to Law take the time data on historically under-represented bring light to how differences add value groups and what the legal industry can do and substance. If we open ourselves up to to discuss and to increase the presence of these groups. learning and embracing what individuals Next, Judge Josefina Rendon adds anwho are different from us have to offer, we highlight our other dynamic to the diversity issue in grow and will be better for it. her article on representing a culturally diOn The Houston Lawyer editorial board differences. verse client. Oftentimes there are barriers while small in size, we have a diverse Taunya Painter due to language, behaviors, customs, etc. Judge Rengroup of members. Half of the board members are Painter Law Firm PLLC don discusses the most common issues and offers some women with varying years of experience and range of guidance on how to move forward when representing a practice areas. Some serve on the courts, while others client with a diverse background. Finally, in a personal work for big firms and others have their own law pracfeature, Ray Panneton sat down with Judge Ruby Sontice. Our members represent diverse cultures such as dock, first woman to sit full-time on the Texas Supreme African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic, Indian Court. She shares how she entered the profession and and Syrian to name a few. One female member was one reflects on her career experiences. of the first Hispanic attorney’s in Houston. Aside from As with all of the issues of The Houston Lawyer magaEnglish, a few board members speak multiple languagHon. Jeff Work Law Offices of Susan es and are fluent in French, Arabic, Spanish and Odia. zine, the reason we have such high caliber articles is E. Cartwright due to the help of dedicated guest editors. I would like Being a part of such a great diverse group has been bento thank Nicole Bakare, Kimberly A. Chojnacki, Amaneficial to me and most certainly it has helped advance da Kreshover, Judy Ney and Judge Josefina Rendon for the goals of the magazine. their commitment to making the March/April issue a In this issue of The Houston Lawyer, in order to gain great one! The bar year is passing quickly, but we still some perspective on diversity in the profession lohave one more issue. Our final issue of the bar year for cally, we assembled two articles, one from attorneys May/June will have a Historical focus. Until then, read who mostly have over thirty years of experience and Jill Yaziji these articles in good health and see how you can emone from younger attorneys practicing less than eleven Yaziji Law brace diversity! years. These attorneys were willing to be candid about Firm Polly Graham Fohn Haynes and Boone, LLP
“
The Houston Lawyer
”
8
March/April 2016
thehoustonlawyer.com