Good afternoon Family Law Section members,On Friday, Oct. 9, the New Jersey State Bar Association Diversity Committee will present the 2020 NJSBA Diversity Summit - From Tokenism to Empowerment: Creating True Equity in the Legal Profession from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.The event is presented in cooperation with the NJSBA LGBT Rights Section, NJSBA Minorities in the Profession Section, Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey, Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, Garden State Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey, Rutgers Law School and Seton Hall Law School.8:30 a.m. Opening RemarksNJSBA President Kimberly A. Yonta8:45 a.m. Then & Now: The Evolution of Diversity in the LawAn overview of how notions of "diversity" have evolved in federal and state law. How have the definitions of "protected classes" changed over time? How has the law – employment law for one, but other areas as well – evolved as statutes and directives have emerged to right historical wrongs? What legal and political arguments have various movements for equity borrowed from and built upon? The discussion will expand the attendees' knowledge and understanding of various areas of the law, including, employment, elder and disability rights and civil rights law.
Moderator:James A. Lewis V, Esq.Co-Chair NJSBA Diversity CommitteeNJSBA TrusteeChasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, SecaucusThomas H. Prol, Esq.Past President, NJSBASills Cummis & Gross PC, NewarkCharles R.G. Simmons, Esq.Rainone Coughlin Minchello, LLC, IselinCrystal West Edwards, Esq.Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC, MorristownDalya Youssef, Esq.President, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers AssociationSenior Staff Attorney, Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc9:55 a.m. From the Inside Looking Out: D & I, an In-House PerspectiveWhat impact have corporate initiatives for equity had on diversity and inclusion in the overall legal profession? How successful have these initiatives been in affecting real change, and what potential still is untapped? What do in-house attorneys look for in terms of diversity when looking to hire outside counsel? This program will help to advance the competence of attorneys and expand their understanding of their professional responsibilities.Moderator:Luis Diaz, Esq.Visione & Affiliated CompaniesMiguel Alexander Pozo, Esq.Cozen O'Connor, NewarkJeremy Farrell, Esq.NJSBA TrusteeLeFrakRippi Karda, Esq.VerizonMikeisha Anderson Jones, Esq.American ExpressAdditional panelists to be announced10:55 a.m. Creating Sustaining & Managing Safe Law Firm WorkplacesStatistics show that law firms have made incremental progress at better reflecting the diversity of the profession, but those changes are not reflected in the ranks of law firm leadership. Hear from law firm managing partners and attorneys about their experiences and efforts to build truly inclusive organizations, and learn more about initiatives to improve diversity, such as the Mansfield Rule. This program will expand the attendee's knowledge of diversity initiatives including cultural change, policy efforts and the current requirements of labor and employment law.Moderator:Norberto Garcia, Esq.President, New Jersey State Bar FoundationBlume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, ChathamCarolyn O'Connor, Esq.Wilson Elser, Florham ParkEric S. Pennington, Esq.City of NewarkRalph Lamparello, Esq.Past President, NJSBAChasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, SecaucusEdward J. Mullins III, Esq.Edward J. Mullins III, Esq. LLC, Union CityAdditional panelists to be announced11:55 a.m. Break12:00 p.m. Mel Narol Award Presentation to Lora FongPresentation of the 2020 Mel Narol AwardAll are invited to the presentation of the 2020 Mel Narol Award to Lora Fong, currently Assistant Attorney General and Chief Diversity Officer for the Department of Law and Public Safety. The award is named for Mel Narol, a charter member of the New Jersey State Bar Association's Task Force on Diversity who worked tirelessly to make diversity efforts within the association a permanent order of business. The award celebrates his work, his collegiality and his unwavering kindness.12:35 p.m. Break/Friday Prayers1:30 p.m. Unpacking Privilege and a Conversation on IntersectionalityPrivilege and intersectionality are two somewhat academic terms that are becoming more and more mainstream. What do these words mean, and how do they affect the work of lawyers? How do these concepts relate to the notion of equal protection under the law considering that different groups of people experience the law differently? This program will advance professional competence by expanding on attendees' knowledge of the law in both theoretical and practical applicationsModerator:Maria Vallejo, Esq.Co-Chair, NJSBA Diversity CommitteeChasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, SecaucusLisa R. BurkeDiversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Program CoordinatorAdministrative Office of the CourtsCeleste Fiore, Esq.Argentino Fiore Law & Advocacy, MontclairChris Keating, Esq.NJSBA TrusteeThe Keefe Law FirmCheyne R. Scott, Esq.Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, SecaucusAdditional panelists to be announced2:30 p.m. How to Be an Anti-Racist ______What does it mean to be anti-racist? As a lawyer? As a leader? As a person? We'll take a closer look the law's power when it comes to advancing anti-racist principles by looking at some reforms going on in public and private spheres; we will also consider the ethical dimensions of embracing anti-racism under the rules of professional conduct. This program will expand an appreciation and understanding of the ethical and professional responsibilities of lawyers.Moderator:Raymond M. Brown, Esq.Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, HackensackPaulette Brown, Esq.Past President, American Bar AssociationLocke Lord LLP, PrincetonKimberly Mutcherson, Esq.Co-Dean, Rutgers University School of LawWade Henderson, Esq.Former president, Leadership Conference on Human and Civil RightsAdditional panelists to be announced3:30 p.m. Bring your own Cocktail Happy Hour and NetworkingCLE Credits:NJ CLE information: NJ CLE: This program has been approved for 6.2 credits (50 minute hour), including 3.6 ethics/professionalism creditsPA CLE: 2.0 substantive and 3.0 ethics credits pending ($20 fee – separate check payable to NJICLE must be submitted at the end of the program)NY CLE (nt): 2.5 professional practice and 0.5 ethics creditsDiversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias: 3.0 creditsRegistration Fees:NJSBA and Affinity Bar Member Rate: $25.00Government/Public Sector Attorney Rate: $25.00Nonmember Rate: $35.00Law Clerk/Student Rate: FREEClick here to register for the 2020 Diversity Summit.For questions or to register by phone, please contact an association representative at 732-214-8500.All the best,Barb------------------------------
Barbara Straczynski
Director of New Media and Promotions
New Jersey State Bar Association
New Brunswick NJ
(732) 937-7524
[email protected]------------------------------