Banner Witcoff attorney Azuke Dike discussed some of the hurdles Black attorneys face breaking into the field of intellectual property law in an August 6 Bloomberg Law article.
Black IP attorneys make up just 1.7% of their speciality, according to the article that highlights several Black IP attorneys, including Azuka, and explores some of the reasons behind the low number. Apart from racism, the attorneys interviewed pointed to barriers in science education for young Black students, a lack of Black mentors, and a lack of exposure to IP as a career path.
Noting that STEM education is required to take the bar exam to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Azuka said: “When you look at that requirement, you must then consider the population of black college students, or post-college grads that have that technical background. So you’re starting from a limited population to begin with.”
Azuka chairs Banner Witcoff’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is a liaison to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession.
The article, “Black IP Lawyers Who’ve Made It Look to Grow Ranks Beyond 1.7%,” is available online to subscribers.
Posted: August 6, 2020
