Diversity in law: 'tricky'

Indiana Chief Justice Randall Shepard recalled the moment that the purpose of his career became clear. \nDuring his high school debate team years, his coach characterized him by telling his teammates, "if Shepard is in a powerful position, he won't relax his efforts," Shepard told the IU law community Friday in the law school's Moot Court Room.\nJustice Shepard said at that point he realized the difference he could make in the world, and that he tries to apply this comment to everything he does.\nShepard has degrees from Princeton University and Yale University. As a seventh generation Hoosier, he was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court in 1985 and later appointed Chief Justice in 1987. Justice Shepard was highly involved in the creation of the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity.\nThe atmosphere at the lecture was comfortable and low-key when Shepard addressed the IU law community on diversity and equal opportunity in the law profession.\n"It was great of you all to give up your lunch hour," Shepard began. "Most law students should be out eating pizza right now, but you all are here."\nShepard opened his speech on equal opportunity in the law profession by addressing the question of why it is important the legal system embrace diversity and employ people from different cultures in society. He described the topic as "in many ways, tricky."\nHe pointed out the percentage of minorities in the law profession does not match the minority numbers in society. Indiana, compared to other states, is pursuing the issue well, Shepard said. \n"The idea of the American experiment is that people from all walks of life will build a common endeavor, and the legal system is a crucial part of that," Shepard said.\nHe also compared law to other professions, particularly air pilots.\n"They are both well-paid and highly trained," Shepard said, adding there was little opportunity for minority advancement in the air industry. \n"The main point is the law profession, though still behind in minority representation, is far ahead of some other professions," he said.\nThe Chief Justice's lecture was sponsored by many student groups. David Lee, the former president of the Asian Pacific-Islander American Student Law Association and third year law student, was partly responsible for bringing Shepard to campus.\nCertain student groups got together and decided they wanted someone who could speak on the importance of diversity, Lee said.\n"We work with each other often because if we put all our heads together, we can achieve common goals," Lee said. \nCooperation among the groups was essential, said Terrance Tharpe, the president of the Black Law Student Association. \n"We support each other," Tharpe said.