The Hispanic National Bar Association is celebrating its 40th year as the National Voice of the Hispanic Legal Community.
Since its founding in 1972, the HNBA has grown in its mission to build a legal profession that reflects America's ever more diverse population, to foster the pipeline of Hispanic law students and young legal professionals, and to advocate for the Hispanic community and the issues that affect it, according to a news release.
"In 40 years, the HNBA has grown from a small advocacy campaign to a national membership organization that represents the interests of more than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students in the United States and its territories," said Benny Agosto Jr., HNBA national president. "Though we have seen some of our goals accomplished and dreams realized -- notably, the appointment of the first Hispanic justice on the United States Supreme Court -- the HNBA is as committed as ever to the work that remains to be done."
The HNBA and its members have acted as a force for positive change within the legal profession and the country, directly participating in such landmark initiatives as Justice Sonia Sotomayor's nomination and confirmation, the DREAM Act campaign and other immigration reform policy work, numerous civil rights cases on a variety of issues, the endorsements of qualified Hispanic judges and executive appointees to ensure diverse Judicial and Executive branches, the first-ever National Study on the Status of Latinas in the Legal Profession, and much more. The HNBA also actively promotes networking and professional development among Hispanic attorneys, judges, and students, and serves as a direct link between its members and the nation's top policymakers.
"We are so proud of the enormous success and growth of the HNBA since our founding 40 years ago, and we look forward to what the future will bring," said President Agosto. "The HNBA has helped generations of lawyers succeed, and our programming and advocacy are only getting stronger."
