Diversity Committee

Diversity Events and Announcements

The Diversity Committee is interested in highlighting diversity achievements and achievements of diverse people and businesses in Louisiana. If you have an accomplishment that you would like to share or a recommendation of a person or business who should be highlighted, please email Kelly Legier.

Latest News and Events

LSBA Board of Governors Approves "The Louisiana State Bar Association Human Rights Award"; Nomination Deadline March 31st
3/31/2010
During the 2010 midyear meeting, the LSBA Board of Governors approved a diversity award to recognize outstanding efforts made by (1) a bar association, (2) a law firm or law department, (3) an individual attorney or judge, (4) a court, or (5) a community organization or individual in promoting diversity in the legal profession, in particular, to recognize efforts ensuring the full and equal opportunity of all persons for entry and advancement in Louisiana's legal profession. One diversity award, bearing the name of the "Louisiana State Bar Association Human Rights Award," will be awarded by the Association annually during its annual meeting, with the first award being presented this June. For more information, please contact Kelly McNeil Legier at Kelly.Legier@lsba.org.
"Human Rights Award" Guidelines
"Human Rights Award" Nomination Form

New Orleans Bar Association Minorities in the Profession Committee Meeting
3/16/2010 5:30 PM
Judge Herbert A. Cade (Chair, Minorities in the Profession Committee) invites you to attend a meeting of the Minorities in the Profession Committee, in his Courtroom at Orleans Civil District Court at 421 Loyola Avenue, Room 302, New Orleans on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 5:30 pm. For information on this committee, please feel to contact the New Orleans Bar Association at (504) 525-7453.
There is no cost to join the Minorities in the Profession Committee if you are a NOBA Member.Call NOBA at(504) 525-7453 or e-mail Julie to register.

Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society holding its next meeting on March 17
3/17/2010 8:00 AM
The next meeting of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society will be held on March 17, 2010 at 6pm at Civil District Court, 3rd Floor. Please join us also for wine and cheese to follow the meeting, sponsored by Morgan Keegan Securities, Inc.

Greater Baton Rouge Louis A. Martinet Legal Society cohosting a FREE CLE titled "Recent Developments with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission"
3/18/2010 12:00 PM
Greater Baton Rouge Louis A. Martinet Legal Society in conjunction with Southern University Civil Rights Institute and the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) will host a FREE CLE, "Recent Developments with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission," on March 18, 2010, from 12:00 Noon to 2:30 pm at the Southern University Law Center, Room 129. the CLE will feature Attorney Keith Hill, Regional Field Director,
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Loyola hosts forum on the needs of the New Orleans Latino community
3/18/2010 5:30 PM
On March 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Charles Room of the Danna Student Center, Loyola University New Orleans will host "�Juntos!," a FREE Forum on Latino New Orleans,� featuring panelists from service agencies which directly engage the growing local Latino population. Representatives from health services, community advocacy groups, language access and immigration services, among others, will share their experiences working to improve the quality of life of Latinos and Latinas. The forum is sponsored by Loyola's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the Office of Service Learning. For more information, contact Sean Snyder in Loyola's Office of Public Affairs at smsnyder@loyno.edu or call 504-861-5882.
The event is free and open to the public. English-Spanish interpretation will be available.

Minority Corporate Counsel Association 9th Annual CLE Expo -- Chicago Marriott Downtown, Chicago, IL
3/18/2010 - 3/19/2010
The MCCA 9th Annual CLE Expo is scheduled for March 18-19, 2010 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown in Chicago, IL. For more information, view the brochure at www.mcca.com.

Loyola Black Law Student Association Annual Scholarship Gala and Silent Auction
3/19/2010 7:00 PM
The A.P. Tureaud Chapter of the Black Law Student Association of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is hosting its Annual Scholarship Gala and Silent Auction on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room (6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, La). Cocktail attire is required for the event. For more information, please contact BLSBA President Tiffany M. Tate (861-5712; tmtate@loyno.edu).

LSBA hosting Professional Development Workshop for Law Students in Partnership with the Loyola BLSA Students
3/23/2010 4:30 PM
The LSBA is hosting a Professional Development Workshop in partnership with the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law BLSA Students on March 23, 2010, at the Loyola College of Law from 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m., with a brief networking reception immediately following. Jaimme Collins, Kelly McNeil Legier, Sharrolyn Miles, and Sheila Wilkinson will discuss the following topics: (1) How to get the most from your summer associate/law clerk position; and (2) job search tips for those not ranked first in the class. The workshop is open to law students from area law schools. For more information, please contact Kelly McNeil Legier (Kelly.Legier@lsba.org).
Flyer

Hispanic Lawyers Association of Louisiana Meeting in Baton Rouge
3/24/2010 5:30 PM
The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Louisiana is holding its monthly meeting in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at the Attorney General's office (Livingston Building, 1885 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA). The guest speaker will be Olga Aguilar from the Census Bureau. Food and drinks will be provided (sandwiches, chips, cookies, etc.). Those who must participate by conference call, should dial 800-369-1540 and enter code 177130 followed by the # symbol.

First Inaugural Meeting of the Louisiana Black Women Attorney's Association
3/30/2010 4:30 PM
The First Inaugural Meeting of the Louisiana Black Women Attorney's Association will convene on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in Courtroom 501 of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Hon. Ivan L.R. Lemelle's Courtroom (500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130).

This will be a business meeting and will last one hour. The business agenda is as follows: (1) the adoption of our organizational documents; and (2) the nomination and/or election of officers. The Nominations and Elections Committee is accepting nominations for officers through Friday, March 27, 2010. To nominate yourself or someone else for any of the other positions, please email Sharonda Williams at swilliams@shergarner.com.
Nomination deadline is Friday, March 27, 2010.

Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and the Louisiana State Bar Association are offering FREE CLE
3/30/2010 7:30 AM
The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and the Louisiana State Bar Association are offering FREE CLE seminars at various locations throughout the state this year from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The next program is scheduled for March 30, 2010, at the Pontchartrain Center, Kenner, Louisiana. This seminar will present a total of 7 credit hours, including 2.00 hour(s) of ethics and 1.0 hour of Professionalism. To register, you must complete an application online at www.ladb.org. Registration is on a first come, first served basis through this website. Lunch will be provided at no cost to attendees by the LSBA. Seating is limited. PLEASE NOTE: YOU ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO REGISTER FOR ONE FREE CLE SEMINAR PER YEAR. YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE SAME COURSE TAKEN AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
Space Is Limited - Register Today!

National Bar Association 2010 convention third early bird registration rate for members ends in April.
4/10/2010
Take advantage of the second early bird registration deadline for the NBA's 85th convention, scheduled August 9-13, 2010 in New Orleans. The registration rate for NBA members is $500 until April 10th. The registration form and payment must be received by the national office by that date. The registration form is available at the following link www.nationalbar.org.
NBA 2010 Convention Registration Form

MINI DIVERSITY CONCLAVE IN LAKE CHARLES SPRING 2010
4/16/2010 10:00 AM
The LSBA is partnering with the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and the Louis A. Martinet Lake Charles Chapter to host a FREE Mini Diversity Conclave in Lake Charles April 16, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (3.0 hours of CLE) at Reeves Uptown Catering (1639 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601), with lunch provided from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. More details will follow. For additional information, contact Adel Murphy swlbaexdir@fulair.com
or Kelly McNeil Legier (504-619-0129; kelly.legier@lsba.org).
Attend this FREE diversity CLE to help advance diversity one conversation at a time!
Program Agenda
Program Mailer & Registration Form

Baton Rouge Martinet Hosting Annual Scholarship Gala
4/17/2010 7:00 PM
The Greater Baton Rouge Chapter of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Inc. is hosting its annual scholarship gala on Saturday, April 17, 2010, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The guest speaker for the event is Lt. General Russel L. Honore'. For tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or ad space, please contact Gala Chair Eboni Townsend at 225-266-4500 or ebonit@hotmail.com. Students interested in serving on the host committee please contact Cynthia Reed at CReed@sulc.edu.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society Congressional Redistricting CLE
4/21/2010 4:30 PM
The Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society is hosting a Congressional Redistricting CLE, titled "New Lines, New Times, New Civil Rights: What Lawyers Should Know About Congressional Redistricting and Its Potential Impact and Legal Implications for the Minority Community." The program is going to be scheduled this Spring, with a reception, in the courtroom of the Hon. Ivan L.R. Lemelle (500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA). Details will follow. For more information, please contact Warren P. McKenna, III ((504) 581-9322; warren@mckennafirm.com).
Planning is underway!!

What Law School Didn't Teach You: Self-Advocacy for Survival and Sustainability, Thursday, April 29, 2010 - 12:30 - 2:00 pm CST
4/29/2010 12:30 PM
Although law school did a good job of providing knowledge of substantive law, knowing "the law" is only the beginning if the diverse attorney is going to truly demonstrate his or her unique and diverse talents. And, that is what is needed to succeed, especially in today's economy. This live webcast program will help diverse attorneys identify the unique and diverse talents they have -- beyond knowing how to put together a business transaction or prepare a will or trust -- that will help make a successful lawyer. This program is being made available free of charge to ABA members, and a FREE viewing will occur at the Louisiana Bar Center in New Orleans. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Jamaican Sunset CLE - 2010
7/8/2010 - 7/15/2010
Save the dates for the 2010 annual Jamaican Sunset CLE, which is scheduled to occur in Negril, Jamaica. Please contact Keith Doley for more information about the CLE. NOTE: Place a deposit on your room by October 30, 2009 at Couples Resorts - Negril to receive significant savings. Call Faye at (800)268-7537 ext. 1412 or visit couples.com to take advantage of the great discounts available.

Please save the date!

National Bar Association 85th Annual Convention in New Orleans
8/9/2010 - 8/13/2010
SAVE THE DATE! The National Bar Association has selected New Orleans as the site of its 85th Annual Convention & Exhibits! Make plans to attend!

MINI DIVERSITY CONCLAVE IN LAFAYETTE FALL 2010
8/25/2010 1:00 PM
The LSBA is partnering with the Lafayette Bar Association and the Louis A. Martinet Greater Lafayette Chapter to host a FREE Mini Diversity Conclave in Lafayette on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (times tentative) at the Lafayette Bar Association with a reception immediately following. More details will follow. For additional information, contact Kelly McNeil Legier (504-619-0129; Kelly.Legier@lsba.org) or Susan Holliday ((337)237-4700; susan@lafayettebar.org).

Attend this FREE diversity CLE to help advance diversity one conversation at a time!

The National LGBT Bar Association 2010 Lavender Law Conference August 26-28, 2010, Miami, Florida
8/26/2010 - 8/28/2010
The National LGBT Bar Association is hosting its 2010 Lavender Law Conference August 26-28, 2010, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. For more information, visit www.lgbtbar.org.

NBA - YLD Retreat
The NBA Young Lawyers Division is excited to share with you the details of the Young Lawyers Division 6th Annual Retreat in Christ Church, Barbados. Details of the Retreat can be found at www.dtmdeparture.com/BougainsvilleasBeachResort.htm.
Young Lawyers Division 6th Annual Retreat