Homer S. Brown Law Association serves needs of  minority students, attorneys, community

By the Homer S. Brown Law Association and Paul A. Ellis Jr., HBLSA president For The Lawyers Journal

Great changes occurred in society in the 1960s, especially in the area of law. In the late 1960s, two law schools in Pittsburgh made a commitment to increase the number of black law students. In the past, blacks graduated from law school at a rate of one every other year. In 1968, over a dozen law students were admitted to the law schools in the greater Pittsburgh area. At the same time, there were fewer than 25 black lawyers practicing in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Several black law students asked minority members of the local bar to assist them with advice to ensure success in law school and counsel them as to future opportunities in the profession. Also at that time, there was a requirement that students have a preceptor, a practicing attorney, while in law school. The first meeting of the black law students and the black attorneys was held in 1969, where several law students, including Frank McClellan, Martha Richards, R. Darrell Ponton and Robert Harper, challenged the members of the black bar to give meaningful assistance to law students in their efforts in pursuing a legal education.

Attorney Oliver L. Johnson, founder and senior partner of the Johnson and Johnson law firm, with his sons Livingstone and Justin, accepted the students challenge and gave a check of $1,000, a substantial amount in that day, for the assistance of law students. His son, Livingstone Johnson, was made trustee of the fund. This resulted in the Oliver L. Johnson Book Fund that has been used over the years to provide financial help to minority law students to purchase law books.

Minority students and attorneys met on an ad hoc basis and it was decided that a formal organization was needed to formulate goals and objectives to not only serve minority law students, but the minority community at large. Initially, the organization was called The Black Lawyers of Western Pennsylvania. The organization decided to select a name to honor a leading black lawyer. One suggestion was to name the organization after Robert H. Terrell, the first African-American jurist in Washington, DC. But after limited discussion, Homer S. Brown was selected due to his stellar accomplishments and enormous contributions to the Pittsburgh legal community.

The Homer S. Brown Law Association (HSBLA) seeks to increase the legal knowledge of the community, protect political and civil rights, assist local law students and benefit members by providing employment information, continuing education and practice development opportunities. The association represents the interests of approximately 200 African-American attorneys and jurists.

The HSBLA is an affiliate of the National Bar Association. Through its affiliation with the NBA, the HSBLA is an active participant in a community of 17,000 practicing lawyers, judges, educators and law students throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Africa and the Caribbean.

Since its inception, the HSBLA has continued to accept challenges to benefit its members and the community. Currently, the challenge is being led by HSBLA President Paul A. Ellis Jr.

I think the African-American community, in particular, needs to be aware of its resources, and the membership of HSBLA, which is comprised of individuals that understand our problems, the need for growth, and whom volunteer their time to help make a difference as we confront the issues that tend to stifle our advancement, said Ellis.

The Homer S. Brown Law Association began with noble intentions, and has indeed benefited the community. With thousands of dollars in scholarships provided to local law students, annual receptions designed to acquaint students with HSBLA members, law clinics that educate members of the community, and critical mentoring programs, the membership of Homer S. Brown is striving to make sure students and attorneys maintain a meaningful dialogue and relationships that will serve to boost self-esteem, avoid feelings of insecurity and hopelessness, and breed confidence and faith in those seeking to develop themselves personally and professionally.

HSBLA also hosts a variety of special events and programs, such as professional networking receptions, the annual Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast, voter registration drives, student essay-writing scholarship contests, food drives, the annual Black History Month Celebration, and events and annual conferences coordinated with the Women's Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Young Lawyers Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

There is progress being made, but theres much more that needs to be done, and it takes patience, community involvement and actual cooperation from local leaders instead of the tiresome lip-service that has been paid to diversity initiatives for many years, Ellis said.

Recently, HSBLA has undergone further strengthening in its alliances formed with the Allegheny County Bar Association under the directorship of David Blaner, and with the law firm of Burns White & Hickton and its diversity coordinator, Kimberly Wood.

It's important to align yourself with individuals and entities that have the vision to promote and enact real social change, said Ellis. What I want to see most of all is an alteration in the antiquated thinking that has led to scores of outstanding professionals relocating from Pittsburgh because of what they perceive to be an unwelcome environment.

Ellis, a sole practitioner, also said, he'd like to see more professionals explore avenues of entrepreneurship. Otherwise, were just spinning our wheels.

The Homer S. Brown Law Association membership is comprised of minority attorneys and students, and is open to additional members joining the organization. Members meet every two to three months for one hour. Those interested in joining HSBLA should call President Paul A. Ellis Jr., at (412) 512-4457, or e-mail paellisjresq@aol.com.