On Thursday, April 1, 2006 the Minnesota legal profession will launch www.MnLegalDiversity.org, a web-based information source to promote the recruitment and retention of minority law student candidates and attorneys considering a move to Minnesota.

The Minnesota Minority Bar Summit, a consortium of bar associations representing attorneys from diverse backgrounds and experiences, with the support of the Minnesota State Bar Association, announce the launch of www.MnLegalDiversity.org, a website designed to enhance the minority recruitment efforts of Minnesota law schools and legal employers.

The website project was carried out by a committee of volunteers during the last year. “The website was created to provide attorneys and law students thinking about studying or practicing law in Minnesota accurate information about the diversity in Minnesota’s legal profession and the state in general” said Kari Jensen Thomas, a key committee volunteer. The website will feature profiles of law students and attorneys across practice areas and will give visitors to the website a candid and personal perspective on life and the practice of law for legal professionals of diverse ethnic backgrounds and experiences.

“We want law school candidates and attorneys to know that Minnesota is a place where people from diverse backgrounds can find professional opportunities as well as community” said Jorge Saavedra, website committee chair. “The website will give candidates hard to find information about bar associations, entertainment, neighborhoods, community organizations, recreation and other ways to get connected to life in Minnesota” added Saavedra.

www.MnLegalDiversity.org will link users to minority bar associations, state and county bar associations, the four Minnesota law schools, and legal employers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. The website will also connect users with information about Minnesota communities, cultural events, entertainment, and other information that will help law school candidates and attorneys to get a comprehensive image of the opportunities for minority legal professionals in the state.

www.MnLegalDiversity.org is funded by charitable donations from law firms, law schools, and bar associations. “The legal profession recognized the value of this website resource and they really stepped up to support it” added Saavedra. “The success of this project demonstrates the leadership and commitment to diversity that the profession has in Minnesota.”

For More Information Contact: Jorge Saavedra, Centro Legal, Inc. 651-393-2477 or Kari Jensen Thomas, Leonard Street & Deinard 612-335-1420.