ABA YLD Diversity Scholar Experience

My YLD Diversity Scholar review was published in the South Carolina Young Lawyer’s Spring 2020 Newsletter. I am so grateful to share my experience and hope that young lawyers also consider applying for a Diversity Scholar position next year. It is an amazing pipeline to help mentor and involve young attorneys and springboard them into leadership positions in the ABA YLD.

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This past year, I was selected as an American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2019-2020 Diversity Scholar. The ABA YLD Scholars Program is designed to encourage active participation of minority attorneys in the Young Lawyers Division. Scholars attend the YLD Fall Conference in October, Midyear Meeting in February, and the Spring Conference in April. Each year, 16 scholars are selected based on professional excellence, public service, and bar involvement history. The Scholars program is from September 1- August 31. During my scholar year, I have had the opportunity to learn, interact, and network with various YLD leaders and emerging leaders in the division. 

WHAT DO LAWYERS DO?

Additionally, the ABA YLD has implemented a diversity pipeline program entitled “What Do Lawyers Do?” (WDLD). The program is aimed at providing information to college (undergraduate) students, particularly students attending a historically Black college or university or a Hispanic serving institution, concerning the different facets of the legal profession. This year, WDLD reached out to middle and high school students. Each scholar must implement a WDLD program in their area before the close of the bar year. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and school cancellations, majority of scholars (including myself) were unable to complete the WDLD programing and fulfilled an alternative requirement. To learn more about WDLD programming, check out: 

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/projects/diversity/what-do-lawyers-do/

MY EXPERIENCE:

Fall Conference was in “The Big Easy” New Orleans, Louisiana. I attended various CLE programming and the “What Do Lawyers Do?” (WDLD) event at Dillard University. Walmart graciously sponsors our Scholars Dinner at each conference. During these intimate scholar dinners, we interact with Walmart attorneys and debrief on our scholar requirements and goals we plan to fulfill during our scholar year. Additionally, this is a time where we get to know our fellow scholars because our conference days are usually packed with back to back meetings. 

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As a huge proponent of Diversity and Inclusion in the legal profession, I was selected to work alongside both the Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Team and Board. I was fortunate to work closely with the Diversity and Inclusion Director, Tamara Nash who served as an amazing mentor during this process. I have assisted with various D&I programing throughout the year.  Currently, I am collaborating with the D&I Team on our Webinar “Underrepresented Representatives: How to Navigate a Profession that Doesn’t Look Like You” which will be implemented this upcoming summer on July 15, 2020. 

MID-YEAR MEETING:

Mid-year meeting was hosted in Austin, Texas. During the Mid-year Meeting, I attended several events including, Council Meeting, the Present and Powerful Speaker Series that discussed 100 Years of Women in Politics, and the YLD Diversity Dialogue Breakfast. As scholars, we were also able to certify as delegates and participate at the ABA YLD Assembly, which is the principal policy-making body of the ABA YLD. It serves as a gathering of young lawyers representing affiliated national, state, local, affinity, and specialty bar associations from across the country. During Assembly, many issues of importance to young lawyers are formed into resolutions, debated, and then voted on. All debates are conducted in accordance to the Rules of Parliamentary Procedure with time given to both pro and con speakers, as appropriate. The resolutions are then voted on by all YLD Assembly delegates. In order for any external policy position approved by the YLD to take effect, it must also be passed by the ABA house of Delegates, which is the primary policy-making body of the ABA. More information can be found at: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/leadership/assembly/.

By taking part in this event, we had the opportunity to have our voice heard and to help shape the profession. Resolutions considered this term included parental leave in the legal profession, young lawyer participation prioritization, and many others. The ABA YLD unanimously passed Constitutional Amendment 11-5. This Resolution amends the ABA YLD’s Bylaws such that all gender binary language (she/her/hers & he/him/his) is changed to more welcoming gender nonbinary terms (they/them/theirs), to help effectuate Goal III of the ABA Diversity Plan. It was an incredible experience to participate as a delegate and learn first-hand everything Assembly entails. 

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WHITE PAPER:

Scholars are required to produce a written piece during their scholar year. I co-authored this year’s ABA White Paper entitled “A Frank Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion: Moving Beyond Lip Service.” This white paper is part of the American Bar Association’s effort to identify and raise awareness on moving beyond lip service to propel the needle forward and measurably increase diversity in the legal profession.

Additionally, this paper seeks to propose ways to disseminate change and eliminate the effects of this identifiable issue. This paper summarizes an event discussion hosted at the American Bar Association (ABA) Midyear Meeting in Austin, Texas, on February 15, 2020, titled “Diversity Dialogue Breakfast.” The candid conversation on diversity and inclusion featured industry leader Don Prophete of Constangy, Brooks, Smith, & Prophete, LLP based in Kansas City, Missouri. The full 2020 White Paper can be accessed on the Diversity and Inclusion Resources page:

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/projects/diversity/resources/

https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/young_lawyers/Diversity/frank-conversation-on-diversity-and-inclusion.pdf

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LOOKING FORWARD:

Although a part of my scholar experience and some of my project involvements were shortened due to COVID-19, I am still grateful to have been a part of this invaluable experience and the new friends I have made along the way. I am looking forward to serving as Vice-Director of Diversity and Inclusion as well as a member of the Marketing and Communications Team for the next upcoming bar year!