November 12 & 13—Virtual Conference

 

“20/20: Strengthening the Vision for D&I Success”

 

Registration is now OPEN for the 2020 ALFDP Annual Conference and Meeting to be held virtually on November 12^th & 13^th.

To Register:  2020 ALFDP Conference Registration [surveymonkey.com] —Those individuals that register by the end of the day on October 30^th will receive conference swag in the mail!

Please see the attached conference agenda for additional information.

Registration Inquiries:  please contact Janell Mallard (jmallard@wiley.law)

11:00 – 11:15 a.m	Registration & Intro to Remo
11:15 – 11:30 a.m.	Welcome Remarks
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	ALFDP Annual Meeting & Board Announcements
12:30 – 12:45 p.m.	Break
12:45 – 1:45 p.m.	Session A Brave Leaders = Courageous Belonging Cultures Speakers: Kori Carew, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Summary: As diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging professionals we know that success rises and falls with our leadership. Now more than ever in our lifetimes we are called to be brave leaders. The gap between who we say we are and what we do is often not only where we lose people but where we fail in our inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging efforts. Based on the research of Dr. Brene Brown, the Dare to Lead program is an empirically based, courage-building program based on four skill sets that are teachable, measurable, and observable. In this session we will go over the four skills for daring leadership with particular emphasis on Living into our Values and how we can help our leaders be brave. This session will be presented by Kori S. Carew, a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator. Session B Diversity Hours Policies Speakers: Raegan Henderson, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator, Dorsey & Whitney LLP Claire Zeise, Recruiting & Diversity Manager, Dorsey & Whitney LLP Summary: Are you thinking of implementing a diversity hours policy at your firm, or are you wondering how to improve an existing diversity hours policy? In this panel program, you will hear from professionals at different law firms on their varying strategies and approaches in implementing a diversity hours policy, with recommendations on how to get the buy-in necessary to launch a program and how to evaluate and improve existing programs.
1:45 – 2:45 p.m.	Best Practices for Coaching White Men in Times of Racial Injustice & Community Unrest Speakers: Paula Edgar, Inclusion Strategy Solutions Summary: Following the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, the legal profession experienced a wave of advocacy (at least in words) that indicated a shift in intent and a want to facilitate impactful action. This wave of action cannot be accomplished without the efforts of white men in power (partners, executive committee members, etc.). This session will provide 10 strategies for effective coaching of white men to becoming allies-in-training, and to adopt an anti-racist stance, which will lead to action and accountability and increase efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion in your law firm.
2:45 – 3:45 p.m.	Networking Break
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.	Long Term Careers of Women of Color in the Legal Profession Speakers: Paulette Brown, Partner, Locke Lord LLP Eileen Letts, Partner, Zuber Lawler LLP Summary: The program will be based on the Report, "Left Out and Left Behind: The Hurdles, Hassles and Heartaches of Achieving Long Term Legal Careers for Women of Color. The program will explore the genesis of the report, recommendations and how we can be effective advocates for systemic change
4:45 – 5:00 p.m.	Break
5:00 – 6:00 p.m	Implementing Gender-Inclusive Workplace Polices for Meaningful Inclusion of Transgender Talent Speakers: Dru Levasseur, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, LGBT Bar Association Patricia Eichar, Partner, Orrick Ryan Rasdall, Associate, Goulston & Storrs Summary: Law firms are working hard to address lingering gaps in LGBTQ+ inclusion, particularly with respect to transgender talent. This panel will discuss the rolling out of a Gender-Inclusive Workplace Policy at a law firm that has served as a model for other firms, the effectiveness of incorporating transgender attorneys into an interactive training process, and the impact these steps can have, particularly on trans people of color entering the profession.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m	Break
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.	Networking Social – Trivia
11:00 – 11:15 a.m.	Day Two Welcome & Board Elections Results
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m	The Selfless Leader: Caring for yourself when your job is caring for others Speakers: Rachael Bosch, Fringe Professional Development Janelle Christian, Fringe Professional Development Summary: As a diversity and inclusion leader, one of your many jobs is to be aware of and empathetic in holding space for your team members and colleagues. This practice is especially challenging this year, given how heavy everything feels in and outside of work. We know that “boundaries” can feel like a buzzword. Rather than spend another session reminding you of the importance and necessity of having boundaries, this program will help you overcome the challenges and obstacles keeping you from putting them in place.
12:15 – 12:30 p.m.	Break
12:30 – 1:15 p.m	Roundtable Discussions
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.	Session A Podcasting 101: What to know about launching a podcast and using it as a vehicle for storytelling Speakers: Alexis Robertson, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Foley & Lardner LLP Summary: This program will explore how podcasts can be used as a vehicle for D&I story telling within the law firm environment. Alexis Robertson will share her journey launching a podcast for Foley & Lardner, The Path & The Practice. She will discuss the impact it has had internally and as well as on recruits and clients. Additionally, Alexis will share actionable tips and considerations for launching a law firm podcast. Session B Awards, Surveys & RFPs, OH MY! Collaborating with Other Law Firm Administrative Departments to Get It All Done Speakers: Kia Scipio, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Ropes & Gray LLP Michelle Bendekovic, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Bass, Berry & Sims Yakiry Adal, Director of Talent & Inclusion, Strook Summary: Does it seem like all D&I awards applications, industry surveys, and business development RFPs are due at the same time? And if that is not enough, all of the awards, recognition events and ceremonies are also at the same time. So, how do you juggle it all and still manage to be a strategic partner with your employer and look good to your clients? In this session, we will talk about utilizing various administrative resources, maximizing responses for use in multiple applications, and the delicate art of navigating office politics and delegating tasks to be sure all the applications get done and the best representatives go to the events.
2:00 – 2:45 p.m	Grief Unplugged: How Grief Infiltrates Law Firm Culture Speakers: Heather Horton, The H-Squared Group LLC Summary: As long as the impact of grief remains hidden in law firms and the legal profession, inclusion is neither achievable nor sustainable. Key takeaways include 1) understanding the impact of grief in law firms & the legal profession 2) how to provide support for grieving lawyers & balance productivity within law firms, and 3) how to implement grief-informed cultures within law firms & the legal profession. Grief is the underlying cause of billions of dollars annually of avoidable costs to law firms & the legal profession. Grief coaching and education are vital to achieving and sustaining inclusion within law firms & the legal profession.
2:45 – 3:00 p.m.	Closing Remarks