8:00 a.m. |
Registrant Check-in
Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor |
8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.
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Excellence in Diversity Reception honoring Sponsors
Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
Open to speakers, sponsors, and registrants
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8:40 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
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Acknowledgments
Sponsor Recognition/Sponsor Representative Photos
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
- Demarcus J. Gordon, Partner, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
- Kellen J. Mathews, Partner, Adams and Reese, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Co-Chair
- Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Co-Chair
- Co-Chairs, LSBA Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession
- Chair and Co-Chairs, Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession
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9:00 a.m. - 9:05 a.m. |
Recognition and Introduction of Chief Justice John L. Weimer III, Louisiana Supreme Court
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
- Demarcus J. Gordon, Partner, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
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9:05 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. |
Welcoming Remarks
- Chief Justice John L. Weimer III, Louisiana Supreme Court, New Orleans, LA
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9:10 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
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Welcoming Remarks
Introduction of Plenary Session One Speaker
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
- Demarcus J. Gordon, Partner, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
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9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
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Plenary Session One - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
1.00 Professionalism Credit Hour
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Navigating Backlash and Going Beyond Best Practices
This session will explore the ways that backlash to DEI has shaped the field. Going beyond best practices, we will discuss frameworks that can help law schools and firms address concerns in the current climate. The importance of psychological safety amidst changing dynamics will also be discussed. Reflection questions will encourage participants to more deeply understand their spheres of influence.
- Dr. Kira H. Banks, Professor, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO
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10:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
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Networking Break
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10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
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Plenary Session Two - Immigration
1.00 Professionalism Credit Hour
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
From Policy to Practice: What Private Attorneys Need to Know About Immigration Law Today
With immigration enforcement ramping up dramatically and federal policies constantly shifting, this session is tailored for attorneys from mid- to large-sized civil firms who wish to deepen their knowledge and engagement. A panel comprised of former government attorneys, civil rights defenders, and impact litigators will examine evolving threats to due process, local enforcement trends, and how law firms can play an influential role in defending immigrant rights. Through firsthand stories and strategic insights, panelists unpack today’s most pressing immigration challenges and connect them to opportunities for strategic involvement. Whether advising corporate clients or championing pro bono cases, attendees will discover how their skills can be put to use in the current climate.
- Paul H. "Woody" Scott, Moderator, The Scott Law Firm LLC, Baton Rouge, LA
- Danielle V. Hernadez, Founder, DVH Law Group, Tampa, Fl
- Erin C. Herbert, Ware | Immigration, Metairie, LA
- Mich P. González, Co-founder, Sanctuary of the South (SOS), New Orleans, LA
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11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
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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
- Demarcus J. Gordon, Partner, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
12:00 p.m. - 12:10 p.m.
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
- Demarcus J. Gordon, Partner, Kelly Hart & Pitre, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
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12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
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Keynote Session
1.00 Professionalism Credit Hour
River Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Equity-Focused Leadership as a Form of Resistance
We are facing what appears to be unprecedented challenges as citizens and lawyers. Professor Angela A. Allen-Bell discourages episodic outrage and retreat as a response. During her keynote, she will situate today’s headlines in their historical context, and she will explain the necessity of participants leading in equity-centered ways at this moment of reflection and responsibility. She will demonstrate how participants, in so doing, can become impactful and empowering forces in the profession and beyond.
- Angela A. Allen-Bell, B. K. Agnihotri Endowed Professor, Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA
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1:10 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. |
Transition Break |
1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
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Plenary Session Three – Best Practices
1.00 Ethics Credit Hour
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Beyond the Buzz: Practical, Ethical AI for Lawyers
Generative AI has dominated headlines, but what does it actually mean for your legal practice—and your ethical obligations? In this session, Greg Siskind, a practicing attorney and legal AI platform founder, cuts through the hype to explore real-world applications of AI in law firms today. The program will focus on the intersection of AI use and professional responsibility, covering key concerns such as competence, confidentiality, supervision, and unauthorized practice of law. With practical examples from daily law practice, this presentation will demystify AI tools, explain how lawyers are already using them ethically, and explore how these technologies can enhance—not undermine—access to justice.
- Greg Siskind, Co-founding Partner, Siskind Susser, PC, Memphis, TN
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2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. |
Networking Break
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2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Plenary Session Four - Best Practices
1.00 Professionalism Credit Hour
Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Legal Aid's Innovation Imperative: Building Sustainable Technology to Broaden Legal Access
Legal aid organizations are often seen as under-resourced and overburdened — yet across the country, they’re leading transformative work through intentional innovation. This panel brings together legal aid leaders who are embedding tech into their workflows, building internal innovation labs, partnering with universities and funders, and creating repeatable solutions to meet the urgent needs of marginalized communities.
Discover how these teams are developing AI tools, reshaping intake systems, and sharing expertise across state lines — all while navigating the constraints of limited funding and misunderstood board expectations. From building a culture of innovation to investing for the long game, this panel invites law firm allies to reimagine what legal aid really means — and how to be part of its evolution. This session will demystify how legal aid organizations move from survival to strategy.
- Kirra Jarratt, Chief Executive Officer, DC Bar Foundation, Washington, DC
- Scheree M. Gilchrist, Chief Innovation Officer, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC
- Susan StVincent, Chief Operating Officer, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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