• What is the California Minority Counsel Program and its purpose?
• How and by whom was it founded?
• Who are its members?
• What are the annual contribution dues?
• How will my organization benefit by joining?
• How can I participate in CMCP?

Q What is the California Minority Counsel Program and its purpose?

The California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) is a coalition of California-based corporations, minority-owned and majority-owned law firms and county bar associations working together specifically to provide attorneys of color equal opportunities to compete for corporate legal work and to advance the careers of minority lawyers at corporations and public agencies.

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Q How and by whom was it founded?

CMCP, based on the American Bar Association’s Minority Demonstration Project, was founded when Wells Fargo Bank, First Interstate Bank, Bank of America, Chevron and Pacific Telesis Group united to become the initial participants in the Program. The founders formed a Steering Committee and obtained a funding grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation, with the Bar Association of San Francisco providing the Program’s administrative staff. CMCP is now self-funded through annual contributions by its membership and event revenues.

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Q Who are its members?

CMCP membership has grown to include 37 corporations, 101 majority-owned law firms, 95 minority-owned law firms, 4 public agencies and 40 individual members. 

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Q What are the annual contribution dues?

The annual contributions are:

• Corporations: $3,000
• Majority-Owned Law Firms: $3,000
• Bar Associations: $3,000
• Public Agencies: $1,500
• Minority-Owned Law Firms [1] : $350

The annual contribution dues firms/corporations pay work as an “umbrella” fee. A law firm or corporation would pay the annual membership dues on behalf of all its attorneys of color throughout California. Dues run on a calendar basis - we do not prorate dues.

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Q How will my organization benefit by joining?

Generally, CMCP provides our member attorneys, both in-house and at private law firms, the opportunity to connect and network with one another. The Program cannot and does not guarantee that the participating corporate counsel will retain the attorney of color. Corporate counsel are given the opportunity to meet attorneys that they might not otherwise encounter. CMCP provides these networking and contact opportunities through a variety of programs and services to its members. 

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Q How can I participate in CMCP?

You can encourage your organization to join CMCP. An information packet can be mailed directly to you and/or your organization’s general counsel/managing partner. If your organization is already a member of the Program, we encourage you to get further involved with CMCP to maximize the value of your membership.

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[1] A minority-owned firm is a firm where 51% of the ownership-stake is held by attorneys of color or 51% of its shareholders are attorneys of color.