By Robert G. Stevens, MA, CLM, SPHR – Bennet Bigelow & Leedom P.S.

PSALA is proud to be part of IILP’s 2017 Symposium on the State of Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession!  Symposiums are being hosted across the country with one here in Seattle. This is one of the most unique D&I program available and the ALA has been a partner with IILP going back several years.  This year IILP has included in their written material a white paper from the ALA Committee on Diversity & Inclusion that will be handed out at each symposium.  It is a readily accessible resource and is titled: The Association of Legal Administrators Diversity Toolkit.  There will be a noteworthy lineup of speakers on diversity within diversity and an impressive panel presentation by local legal leaders on “Who’s Responsible for Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession.” Robert Stevens, Past PSALA President and Past Chairperson of the ALA Committee on D&I, is participating on the panel and also presenting the ALA white paper. Below is an outline of speakers and topics.  It is an event not to miss.  Please join us on October 6th at Starbucks at 2401 Utah Avenue South from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, networking reception to follow. Our members are eligible for a discounted registration rate and can earn CLE credits.

To register: http://www.theiilp.com/calendar

What You Need to Know

Date:     Friday, October 6, 2017
Time:     8:30 PM – 12:30 PM, Reception to Follow (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)
Place:    Starbucks
              2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle
Cost:      Regular: $50/person
              Member of a Co-Sponsoring Firm or Organization: $25/person
              No charge for unemployed lawyers and law students

Program Highlights:

• Overview of the most current data, statistics and demographics of the legal profession
• Presentations by 2017 IILP Review authors:
  • An Empirical Analysis of Diversity in the Legal Profession
    Jason P. Nance, Associate Professor of Law and the Associate Director for Education Law and Policy at the Center on Children and Families, University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • An Innovative Approach to Hiring Lawyers: One Firm’s New Program Reflects Its Firm Values and Eliminates Implicit Bias
    Lisa A. Brown, Professional Development Partner, Schiff Hardin LLP
  • The Association of Legal Administrators Diversity Toolkit
    Robert Stevens for the Association of Legal Administrators
  • Attorneys with Disabilities: Shedding Light on the Invisible Element of Diversity
    Angela Winfield, Director, Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity, Cornell University
  • Changing the Landscape of the Legal Profession Globally: The Development of a Culturally-Sensitive Diversity and Inclusion Pipeline
    Gretchen Bellamy
  • The Next Generation of the Women’s Initiative
    Margo Wolf O’Donnell, Shareholder, Vedder Price P.C. and Marcia Owens, Partner, Hamilton Thies & Lorch LLP
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Transformative Steps to a More Inclusive Profession
    Sharon E. Jones, CEO, Jones Diversity Group LLC
  • Erase the Lines … We’re All in This Together
    Sidney K.  Kanazawa, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
• Panel presentation, “Whose Responsibility is D&I in the Legal Profession?” featuring:
  • Kenneth E. Payson, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (Moderator)
  • Robert Stevens, COO, Bennett, Bigelow & Leedom, P.S.
  • Ot hers to be determined
• Post-program networking reception with the speakers, panelists, Host Committee members, and Starbucks in-house counsel

The papers being handed out at the symposium are already in print; electronic that is, at http://www.alanet.org/docs/default-source/diversity/iilp_2016_final_lowres.pdf?sfvrsn=2