16th Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession

General Information

August 9, 2024
Four Seasons New Orleans Hotel, 2 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA

The LSBA’s inclusion of a program in its CLE programming is not to be deemed a statement or an endorsement of the views expressed therein by the LSBA or any member of the LSBA. Speakers on LSBA programs were carefully selected for their knowledge, but neither the LSBA nor the speaker warrant that the presentations or materials were free of errors, or will continue to be accurate. Statements in the presentations and their materials should be verified before relying on them. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect opinions of the LSBA, its sections, or committees. Views expressed are those of the authors and contributors only.

Registration:
Registration (BEFORE July 12, 2024) $110
Registration (AFTER July 12, 2024) $135

The LSBA is not responsible for any expenses associated with travel, lodging, or other costs incurred by the registrant. This also applies in the event that the LSBA must cancel the conference for any reason.

Audio or video recording or transcription of any portion of the conference is prohibited unless express consent is granted by the LSBA.

ON-SITE REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE

The LSBA must adhere to facility capacity constraints, so please indicate during the registration process if you will attend the Excellence in Diversity reception.

Registration Cancellation Policy:
All cancellations must be received in writing and sent to diversity@lsba.org.

Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. Cancellations received in writing before July 26, 2024, will be fully refunded minus a $30.00 administrative fee. If written confirmation of cancellation is not received by July 24, 2024, no refunds or credits will be issued of any kind. Credits will be processed within two weeks of the cancellation request.

On-site Registration Policy:
It is the policy of the LSBA that NO CASH shall be accepted for any transaction. Payment may be made by personal check or via the LSBA registration portal if open on the day of registration.

Online
Attorney Registration

Paper Registration
Attorney Form

Paper Registration
Non-Attorney Form

Paper Registration
Student Form

Sponsorship Opportunities Are Available
Download Sponsorship Form

Exhibitor Opportunities Are Available
View Fees and Details

Speaker Highlights

Keynote Speaker
Mary Smith, J.D., President, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C.

The Future of the Legal Profession: From Diversity to Democracy and Everything In-Between
Join us for an engaging conversation with American Bar Association President Mary Smith as she discusses diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession. From the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision to attacks on law firms and corporate diversity programs to the ABA’s policies and programs on diversity, this conversation will be focused on how lawyers can ensure that the legal profession reflects America. President Smith, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, will discuss her Native American heritage and the state of Native Americans in the legal profession and in Louisiana. Finally, she will discuss the work of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy and the relationship between DEI and democracy.

Plenary One
Sonia Jhas, Mindset, Wellness, and Self-Fulfillment Expert, Toronto, Canada

Exhibitors

Luncheon

SOUP STARTER

ENTRÉE
Chicken

OR

Fish

OR

Vegetarian

DESSERT

Vegetarian

Special Requirements / Questions

Please contact the LSBA if you have a disability, dietary restrictions or a food allergy which may require special accommodations at this conference. The LSBA is committed to ensuring full accessibility for all registrants.

Lactation Room
A lactation room for breastfeeding individuals to express milk while attending conclave is available. You are responsible for requesting access to the space and following the guidelines for use.

Lactation Room Guidelines:
Attendee must request use of the room via email at diversity@lsba.org.

Please provide name, LSBRN, phone number, time room is needed and length of time that lactation room is needed.

Pumping equipment: Should you choose to leave any items in the room, know that these are not the responsibility of LSBA or host hotel.

Please keep the space neat and orderly. If there is a cleaning issue, please report the issue to LSBA staff at the check-in desk.

If you have any additional comments or questions regarding lactation space or access, please email the Member Outreach and Diversity team at diversity@lsba.org.

Questions?
Contact the Member Outreach and Diversity team members by email at diversity@lsba.org.

Hotel Information

The LSBA has reserved a block of rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans at a discounted rate of $244 per night (excluding taxes and fees). You are urged to make reservations early, as there are only a limited number of rooms available at the discounted rate listed above. The LSBA room block is reserved for conference attendees only.

Make Hotel Reservations

Hotel cancellation policy:
All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card by July 8, 2024 and the credit card will be charged a deposit of one night's room and tax when reservations are made. Any requests received after July 8, 2024 will be handled on a space and rate availability basis only. Please note that if your plans change and you do not timely cancel your room reservation by 3:00 p.m. on August 5, 2024, you are responsible for the room charge.

Wi-Fi Access
Wireless access will be available in the conference area and main lobby. Please note, electrical outlets will be limited.

Excellence in Diversity Reception

The Excellence in Diversity Reception honoring Sponsors and Co-Hosts will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024, at the Four Seasons New Orleans Hotel at 8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Speakers, sponsors, co-hosts, and registrants are invited to attend.

We hope you can join us and look forward to your continued support of the LSBA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

Agenda
CLE Credit Hour(s) (including Ethics and Professionalism)

Time:	Details:
8:00 a.m.	Registrant Check-in Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.	Excellence in Diversity Reception honoring Sponsors and Co-hosts Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor Open to all conference speakers, sponsors, co-hosts, and registrants
8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Acknowledgments Sponsor and Co-host Recognition/Sponsor and Co-host Representative Photos Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Susan R. Laporte, Kuchler Polk Weiner, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair Demarcus J. Gordon, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Co-Chair Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, LLC, Baton Rouge, LA, Conclave Co-Chair Co-chairs, LSBA Diversity Committee Chair and Co-chairs, Conclave
9:00 a.m. - 9:05 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks Recognition and Introduction of Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin, Louisiana Supreme Court Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Susan R. Laporte, Kuchler Polk Weiner, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
9:05 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin, Louisiana Supreme Court
9:10 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.	Welcoming Remarks Introduction of Plenary Session One Speaker Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Susan R. Laporte, Kuchler Polk Weiner, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.	Plenary Session One - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Professionalism) - 1.00 CLE credit hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Sonia Jhas, Mindset, Wellness, and Self-Fulfillment Expert, Toronto, Canada
10:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Networking Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.	Plenary Session Two - Artificial Intelligence - 1.00 CLE credit hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3^rd Floor Daniel W. Linna Jr., Director of Law and Technology Initiatives, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL Julian Posada, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, American Studies Program, Yale University
11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.	Transition Break
11:45 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.	Luncheon, Presentations, Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award River Ballroom, 3rd Floor 11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Introduction of recipient of Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award Susan R. Laporte, Kuchler Polk Weiner, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair 12:00 p.m. - 12:10 p.m. Introduction of Keynote Speaker Susan R. Laporte, Kuchler Polk Weiner, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.	Keynote Session- 1.00 CLE credit hour River Ballroom, 3rd Floor The Future of the Legal Profession: From Diversity to Democracy and Everything In-Between Join us for an engaging conversation with American Bar Association President Mary Smith as she discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. From the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision to attacks on law firms and corporate diversity programs to the ABA's policies and programs on diversity, this conversation will be focused on how lawyers can ensure that the legal profession reflects America. President Smith, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, will discuss her Native American heritage and the state of Native Americans in the legal profession and in Louisiana. Finally, she will discuss the work of the ABA Task Force for American Democracy and the relationship between DEI and democracy. Mary Smith, J.D., President, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C. Wayne J. Lee, Moderator, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann, LLC, New Orleans, LA
1:10 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.	Transition Break
1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.	Plenary Session Three - Best Practices (Jury Selection) - 1.00 CLE credit hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Jeffrey T. Frederick, Jeffrey Frederick Trial Consulting Services, LLC, Charlottesville, VA Paula Hannaford-Agor, Director, Center for Jury Studies, Williamsburg, VA Lindsey A. Cheek, The Cheek Law Firm LLC, New Orleans, LA
2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Networking Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Plenary Session Four - Pipeline to Diversity in the Legal Profession (DEI and the U.S. Supreme Court) (Professionalism) - 1.00 CLE credit hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Alena M. Allen, Dean, LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School, Baton Rouge, LA Esther G. Lander, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, Washington, D.C. John C. Brittain, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Washington, D.C.

Materials

The LSBA is working on ways to reduce the amount of paper we use at conferences and symposia. This is an effort both to be responsible toward our environment and to increase the quality and timeliness of the resources provided through this learning experience.

To view the course materials for this year's Conclave, please click the download link beside a session title below to obtain the materials available for that session. We recommend that you do so PRIOR to the conference.

If you choose to review the materials from an electronic device, we strongly suggest that you charge the device's battery, as electrical outlets are limited.

9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. – Plenary Session One

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Plenary Session Two

12:10 p.m.- 1:10 p.m. – Keynote Speaker

1:20 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. – Plenary Session Three

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Plenary Session Four

Speaker Biographies

Dignitaries

Susan R. Laporte, Kuchler Polk Weiner, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair	Download
Demarcus J. Gordon, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Co-Chair	Download
Monica M. Vela-Vick, Phelps Dunbar, L.L.P, Baton Rouge, LA, Conclave Co-Chair	Download

Plenary Session One

Sonia Jhas, Mindset, Wellness, and Self-Fulfillment Expert, Toronto, Canada

Download

Plenary Session Two

Daniel W. Linna Jr., Director of Law and Technology Initiatives, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL	Download
Julian Posada, Ph.D., Assitant Professor, American Studies Program, Yale University

Keynote Speaker

Mary Smith, J.D., President, American Bar Association, Washington, D.C.	Download
Wayne J. Lee, Moderator, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann, LLC, New Orleans, LA	Download

Plenary Session Three

Jeffrey T. Frederick, Jeffrey Frederick Trial Consulting Services, Charlottesville, VA	Download
Paula Hannaford-Agor, Director, Center for Jury Studies, Williamsburg, VA	Download
Lindsey A. Cheek, The Cheek Law Firm LLC, New Orleans, LA	Download

Plenary Session Four

Alena M. Allen, Dean, LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School, Baton Rouge, LA	Download
Esther G. Lander, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, Washington, D.C.	Download
John C. Brittain, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, Washington, D.C.	Download

Thank You to Our Sponsors...

The LSBA Diversity Committee and Conclave Subcommittee would like to take the time to thank all of our generous sponsors and co-hosts who support the Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession.

Interested in Sponsoring

Download Sponsorship Form

Platinum Plus Level
Jones Walker L.L.P.

Platinum Level
Jackson Lewis, P.C.

Gold Level
Deutsch Kerrigan, L.L.P.
McCranie Sistrunk Anzelmo Hardy McDaniel & Welch, LLC
Stone Pigman Walther Wittman, L.L.C.

Silver Level
Barrasso, Usdin, Kupperman, Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C.
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
LSU Law Center
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Conclave Coffee Service Sponsor Only Two (2) Available *No longer available*
Blue Williams, LLC
LSBA Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law Section

Bronze Level
Manning Gross & Massenburg, LLP
The Kullman Firm APLC