Progress is a chameleon. Its hue changes with our perspective, which is influenced by our race, gender, socio-economic status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, age, and ancestry, among other influences. The amount of progress we perceive also varies from person to person and depends on the type of law we practice and whether we work in a small town or big city. Perhaps most importantly, how we view the rapidity of change in the legal profession — as stagnant, developing, or somewhere in between — is impacted by our unique experiences, our psychology, the length of time we have been lawyers, and other life circumstances we have encountered along our journey.

I write this essay purely from my perspective. My conclusion — the legal profession has taken significant strides. The profession is much more welcoming and inclusive than when I began practicing, but there is plenty of room for more improvement.