From Tokenism to Empowerment:
Creating True Equity in the Legal Profession
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Presented in cooperation with:
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
Seton Hall Law School
The full day program is FREE for law students, $25 for members of the NJSBA and sponsoring organizations, and $35 for everyone else, CLE credits are available. Register today.
8:30 a.m.
Opening Remarks
NJSBA President Kimberly A. Yonta
8:45 a.m.
Then & Now: The Evolution of Diversity in the Law
An 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 Committee
NJSBA Trustee
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, Secaucus
Thomas H. Prol, Esq.
Past President, NJSBA
Sills Cummis & Gross PC, Newark
Charles R.G. Simmons, Esq.
Rainone Coughlin Minchello, LLC, Iselin
Crystal West Edwards, Esq.
Porzio, Bromberg & Newman PC, Morristown
Dalya Youssef, Esq.
President, New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association
Senior Staff Attorney, Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc
9:55 a.m.
From the Inside Looking Out: D & I, an In-House Perspective
What 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 Companies
Miguel Alexander Pozo, Esq.
Cozen O’Connor, Newark
Jeremy Farrell, Esq.
NJSBA Trustee
LeFrak
Rippi Karda, Esq.
Verizon
Mikeisha Anderson Jones, Esq.
American Express
Additional panelists to be announced
10:55 a.m.
Creating Sustaining & Managing Safe Law Firm Workplaces
Statistics 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 Foundation
Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, Chatham
Carolyn O’Connor, Esq.
Wilson Elser, Florham Park
Eric S. Pennington, Esq.
City of Newark
Ralph Lamparello, Esq.
Past President, NJSBA
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, Secaucus
Edward J. Mullins III, Esq.
Edward J. Mullins III, Esq. LLC, Union City
Additional panelists to be announced
11:55 a.m.
Break
12:00 p.m.
Mel Narol Award Presentation to Lora Fong
Presentation of the 2020 Mel Narol Award
All 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 Prayers
1:30 p.m.
Unpacking Privilege and a Conversation on Intersectionality
Privilege 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 applications
Moderator:
Maria Vallejo, Esq.
Co-Chair, NJSBA Diversity Committee
Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, Secaucus
Lisa R. Burke
Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Program Coordinator
Administrative Office of the Courts
Celeste Fiore, Esq.
Argentino Fiore Law & Advocacy, Montclair
Chris Keating, Esq.
NJSBA Trustee
The Keefe Law Firm
Additional panelists to be announced
2:30 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, Hackensack
Paulette Brown, Esq.
Past President, American Bar Association
Locke Lord LLP, Princeton
Kimberly Mutcherson, Esq.
Co-Dean, Rutgers University School of Law
Wade Henderson, Esq.
Former president, Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights
Additional panelists to be announced
3:30 p.m.
Bring your own Cocktail Happy Hour and Networking
CLE Credits:
NJ CLE information:
NJ CLE:
This program has been approved for 6.2 credits (50 minute hour), including 3.6 ethics/professionalism credits
PA 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 credits
Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias: 3.0 credits