A national group concerned about the lack of diversity among lawyers in Florida and nationwide has launched a $1.5-million campaign designed to encourage minority first- and second-year college students to discover career opportunities in law.

Citing statistics that show only 10 percent of lawyers in the United States are African-American, Latino, Asian-American or Native American, the Law School Admission Council is introducing DiscoverLaw.org, an interactive Web site that includes access to law school experts, profiles and advice from diverse law school graduates, and a timeline with steps undergraduates can take to prepare themselves to be successful law school applicants.

"The important thing for first- and second-year college students to understand is that it’s never too early to begin preparing for law school," LSAC's executive director for diversity initiatives Kent Lollis said in a news release. "There are things they should be doing now – such as selecting rigorous coursework to enhance their reading comprehension, writing, and analytical skills – that can put them on a path toward a law degree."

Online and print advertising for DiscoverLaw.org counters the perception that the world has too many lawyers with this tagline: "Actually, the world DOES need another lawyer."

Donna Winchester, higher education reporter