A New Haven-based attorney honored last year as one of the Connecticut Law Tribune’s New Leaders in the Law has founded a local organization and publication dedicated to advancing careers for lawyers of color.

Neubert, Pepe & Monteith associate Aigné S. Goldsby founded the organization Black Esquire in 2018 “because I was tired of seeing so many talented black men and women struggling to achieve their lawyer dreams,” she said. “I remember how difficult it was starting my legal journey as a black female. No one in my immediate family had gone to law school and the first time I met a lawyer was in college—and that lawyer surely did not look like me.”

In addition to providing resources for black and minority legal professionals, Black Esquire aims to help Connecticut’s legal industry match or surpass black representation in the general work population. “We know that the minority lawyer population is low,” Goldsby said. “There are many reasons for this, but you can do a lot when you provide minorities with as much information as possible early on in the process.”

A former associate at McGivney, Kluger & Cook, Goldsby migrated to Neubert Pepe this past May. She won a New Leader award as an under-30 attorney who coaches high schoolers, prelaw students and law school graduates on such necessities as studying for and passing the bar exam. “I am also currently working on a curriculum for Black Esquire Academy, which is a boot camp for high school and prelaw students about what to expect in law school,” she said.

Black Esquire took its latest step this week with the release of the inaugural issue of Black Esquire magazine, featuring Goldsby on the cover. The publication outlines resources for black and minority students and attorneys, and Goldsby said the publication is building a library of resources.

“Success in the legal profession is hard enough, but minorities just have a different struggle,” Goldsby said. “I wanted to help. I had great support from my family and friends along the way, but there is nothing like talking to someone who has been there before you to guide you along your journey, to help you not make the same mistakes they did. Knowledge is power!”

Goldsby said Black Esquire is geared toward both accomplished black attorneys and young people interested in joining the profession. “One article discusses the very long process of studying for the LSAT, while another discusses the important issue of estate planning in the black community, or the lack thereof,” she said. “I think it will be informative and hopefully encourage others to contribute to the magazine in the future. We’re definitely looking forward to our Winter/Spring issue in 2020.”