Attorney seeks diversity

There are people who talk a lot about the benefits of diversity and then there's Karthik Nadesan.

Nadesan, a Salt Lake City attorney, was born in Sri Lanka; educated both there and in the United States in Jewish, British-style and Quaker schools; has studied philosophy, law and human genetics — and in his spare time teaches snowboarding.

Nadesan also is the new president of the Utah Minority Bar.

He has learned there are more than 400 minority lawyers in Utah, but only about 100 are well-known and publicized enough for people to get access to their services.

"I'd like to see us develop a directory of minority attorneys, and also include ethnic groups and languages spoken in Utah," Nadesan said. Utah is experiencing a significant change in the population, with an influx of newcomers not only from elsewhere in the United States, but from other countries as well.

Nadesan says any subsequent encounter with the legal system leaves minorities at a "serious disadvantage" if they can't find someone to represent them who understands their culture and language.

"We could have a list where people can look up particular categories of law that matches their language and background," Nadesan said.

He realizes this is a huge undertaking for a term that lasts only one year, but hopes it can be accomplished. He'd like to have both written and online directories available for the public.

Another of his goals is to expand the level of mentoring for young minority lawyers in a variety of ways. He wants programs that not only help them on the job and network within the legal community, but he also hopes for greater awareness of opportunities for internships and clerking for judges — all significant steps in building a strong resume and gaining valuable experience.

"Part of our focus is to get people involved," Nadesan said.

In the midst of all this, Nadesan also is busy working for the law firm of Snell & Wilmer where he handles civil litigation, particularly product liability defense.

"I find it really interesting," he says, referring to the legal system. "A lot of the arguments are the same ones in philosophy."

He graduated from Cornell University with a double major in biology and philosophy. In addition to getting a law degree from the University of Utah, he also has been a graduate student there studying philosophy and human genetics.

Nadesan's mother is a doctor in New York City and his father previously was an attorney in England and then in Sri Lanka. Nadesan's father also founded a drug prevention program, and Nadesan was chosen as a nongovernment representative for that group to the United Nations.