Two decades have passed since the Great Society programs ostensibly widened the doors of opportunity in the United States, including the opportunity to practice law. This article examines the current status of the black bar and evaluates several contemporary theories of professional labor market segmentation. Findings show that the absolute number of black attorneys has increased over the past 15 years, the rate of growth is slowing, the proportion of blacks enrolled in law school has been relatively stable over this period, and that other minorities and women have increased their presence within the bar more than blacks. The evidence establishes the importance of the public sector as a source of employment for black and other minority lawyers. A comparison of the proportions of black lawyers and judges found within several large cities reveals the influence of the black electorate on the racial composition of the bar. The practice of law has generally been opened to blacks, but their distribution across specialties and settings suggests that they may be particularly vulnerable to policies that reduce the size and scope of the public sector.
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