Judges, lawyers and legal professionals from across the state will convene at the New Jersey Law Center on Oct. 6 for the return of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Diversity Summit, an annual, daylong educational and networking program that dives deep into issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the legal profession.
“We’re really excited to have the Diversity Summit back in-person at the Law Center after a hiatus due to the pandemic,” said NJSBA Diversity Committee Co-Chair Albertina Webb. “Once again, the Diversity Summit will look beyond soundbites and headlines to examine the actual lived experience of attorneys of color in the legal profession and beyond.”
This year’s theme—“From Performing to Transforming”—will examine what “real” progress on DEI issues looks like in the profession. There have been numerous headlines in recent years about historic occurrences in the profession—particularly with the first Black women ascending to seats on both the New Jersey Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. Still, questions persist about true equity in both the legal profession and in the justice system overall. What do numbers tell us? And what can’t they tell us?
The day will include a keynote address from Lora Fong, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the state Department of Law and Public Safety. Fong, who has been in the trenches of diversity work for decades in the corporate world, at law firms and in government, will give her perspective on how initiatives have evolved through the years, which are the most effective and the work that still needs to happen.
In addition, the day will include panels on the value of diversity on the bench; why some practice areas seemingly don’t attract many attorneys of color (and how it feels to be one of a few); and a chief diversity officer roundtable with representation from law firms, government and more. The day will end with a networking reception.
CLE credits are available for the program, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is also an option to attend remotely. In-person attendance includes lunch and a late afternoon networking reception.
The NJSBA Diversity Summit is co-sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, Garden State Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey.
Speakers continue to be added. Visit njsba.com for the latest agenda and how to register.