An exhortation in an article to create a Chief Legal Diversity Officer

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Docket, July/Aug. 2010, at 32, recommends an action general counsel should take to elevate the importance of diverse attorneys representing the company. “They should consider establishing a position of chief legal diversity officer or minority counsel liaison, which would send a clear message to the corporation and outside counsel about the importance of diversity.” Later the authors recommend that “Law departments should invite minority counsel to an annual in-house diversity conference.”

In isolation, this recommendation is easy to understand. Should there also be a Chief Legal Technology Officer, a Chief Legal Environmental Officer, a Chief Pro Bono Officer? For any significant initiative of a law department, does it deserve or warrant a “Chief”? We could run out of teepees.