Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty Sues State Bar Over Diversity Clerkship Program

The lawsuit alleges the program discriminates based on race and violates the equal protection rights of law students.

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has filed a lawsuit against the State Bar of Wisconsin, alleging that its diversity clerkship program discriminates based on race and violates the equal protection rights of law students.
The program, which has been in existence for 30 years, offers summer internships to first-year law school students at top law firms, private companies, and government offices.
The lawsuit argues that the program is not open to all law school students and classifies applicants based on race.
The lawsuit also claims that the bar, by collecting mandatory fees from members that fund the program, is violating the free speech and free association rights of those who object to their dues being used in this way.
The State Bar of Wisconsin is a mandatory professional association for all attorneys who hold a law license in the state, with about 25,000 members.