RESOURCES
Profile of the Profession: New York Lawyers in 2022
Check out Unlock the Bar’s May 2023 report Profile of the Profession: New York Lawyers in 2022 which provides information about the demographics of barred attorneys within the state of New York. By processing the response UTB received from our Freedom of Information Law ("FOIL") request, we hope this report can shine a light on the lack of diversity and representation of oppressed communities within the legal profession. Find a link to the report and the FOIL response documents below!
Character and Fitness Landscape Survey
UTB’s jurisdictional landscape survey that analyzes the Character and Fitness questionnaires throughout all 58 United States attorney-licensing jurisdictions. UTB charts seven main subject matter areas: 1) criminal legal involvement, 2) academic discipline; 3) adverse employment actions, 4) financial matters, 5) mental health and substance use history, 6) immigration status, and 7) involvement in civil matters. The survey notes whether disclosure is required and provides links to the applications.
Unlock the Bar: The Case for Abolishing the Character and Fitness
On February 16, 2022, Unlock the Bar released a report investigating the origin and effects of Character and Fitness. The report explores the political nature of the evaluation and how it has led to a perpetuation a majority White, ideologically homogenous profession.
Character and Fitness Teach-In, 2021
On February 27, 2021, Unlock the Bar hosted a teach-in about the Character and Fitness (C&F) and our fight to explore what championing liberatory principles can look like in the legal profession.
At the teach-in, we explore the discriminatory origins of the C&F, explore how the current C&F violates legal statutes and liberatory values with an attorney from the Legal Aid Society's Worker Justice Project, and hear from folks who have been negatively impacted by the C&F. We also discuss ways folks who are interested can get involved.
UTB Community Folder
Check out more resources such as reports, advocacy materials, and further reading in our community folder!