Black Lawyers Matter 2021 - Agenda and Session Recordings

 

Agenda and Session Recordings

Agenda and Session Recordings / Friday, October 15

11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET
Welcome and Introduction

Speakers:
Leonard M. Baynes, University of Houston School of Law
Robert Grey, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
Angela Winfield, Law School Admission Council

View Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Speaker session recording

Read Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Speaker transcript (PDF 117KB)

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET
Opening Speaker

Introduction:
Dan Tokaji, University of Wisconsin School of Law

Speaker:
Hon. Vanessa D. Gilmore, U.S. District Judge, Southern District – Texas

View Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Speaker session recording

Read Welcome, Introduction, and Opening Speaker transcript (PDF 117KB)

12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET
Session 1: Who is Educating and Supporting Tomorrow’s Lawyers?
A Roundtable Discussion on Hiring and Developing a Diverse and Culturally Competent Faculty

Session Description:
Faculty members serve as educators, role models, and mentors. What are the best practices in hiring and development to build and retain faculty that can support the achievement of minoritized students during law school? Topics included current demographics; tenure and promotion standards; unequal service responsibilities on diverse faculty; and hiring practices including reliance on fellowship programs and growing publication expectations for entry-level faculty.

Moderator:
Leonard M. Baynes, University of Houston School of Law

Panelists:
Adrienne Davis, Washington University in St. Louis School of Law
Meera Deo, Southwestern School of Law – Los Angeles
Kevin Johnson, University of California-Davis School of Law
Trevor W. Morrison, New York University School of Law
Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Boston University School of Law
Christina D. Ponsa-Kraus, Columbia Law School
Sudha Setty, Western New England University School of Law

View Session 1 session recording

Read Session 1 transcript (PDF 225KB)

1:15 p.m to 1:30 p.m. ET
BREAK

1:30 p.m to 2:45 p.m. ET
Session 2: The Curriculum and Pedagogy of Legal Education

Session Description:
What are we teaching and how do we teach it? Are those choices differentially impacting the success of minoritized students? What changes are law schools making to curriculum and pedagogy to promote anti-racist legal education? This panel discussion shared current progress and make recommendations for additional steps law schools should take now and for the longer term.

Moderator:
Danielle Holley-Walker, Howard University School of Law

Panelists:
Danielle M. Conway, Penn State Dickinson Law
Renée McDonald Hutchins, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
Stacy Leeds, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Teri A. McMurtry-Chubb, The University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

View Session 2 session recording

Read Session 2 transcript (PDF 136KB)

2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET
Afternoon Keynote

Introduction:
Anthony Varona, University of Miami School of Law

Speakers:
Marcilynn Burke, University of Oregon School of Law
Deborah Enix-Ross, President-Elect, American Bar Association
Joshua Fershée, Creighton University School of Law

View Keynote session recording

Read Keynote transcript (PDF 134KB)

3:15 p.m to 3:30 p.m. ET
BREAK

3:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. ET
Session 3: Re-Envisioning the Hiring Process for New Lawyers

Session Description:
The hiring process is full of hierarchy, trauma, and inequality. To put it bluntly, there has to be a better way. This session re-envisioned what a fairer hiring process for new lawyers might look like and charted some specific recommendations for action. The panel addressed changes that both law schools and legal employers must address.

Moderator:
Dean Jennifer Collins, Southern Methodist University

Speakers:
Alison Ashe-Card, Associate Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Wake Forest School of Law
Jaret L. Davis, Co-Managing Shareholder – Miami Office, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
Danielle Holley-Walker, Howard University School of Law
Jim Leipold, Executive Director, National Association for Law Placement
Anthony Upshaw, Partner and Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, McDermott Will & Emory

View Session 3 session recording

Read Session 3 transcript (PDF 193KB)

4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Session 4: Best Practices in Lawyer Retention and Career Development

Session Description:
This session offered best practices for lawyer retention and also shared steps that both law firms and law schools should take to assist new lawyers in career development.

Moderator:
Carla Pratt, Washburn University School of Law

Speakers:
John Lewis Jr., Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Denelle J. Waynick, Chief Legal Officer, Saniona
Joseph K. West, Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Duane Morris, P.A.
James Williams, Partner, Perkins Coie, P.A.

View Session 4 session recording

Read Session 4 transcript (PDF 192KB)

5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET
Next Steps and Closing Remarks

Moderator:
Kellye Testy, Law School Admission Council

Panelists:
Michele Alexandre, Stetson University College of Law
Jennifer Collins, Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University
Elizabeth Kronk Warner, S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah
Leo P. Martinez, University of California Hastings College of Law
Kimberly Mutcherson, Rutgers University School of Law School

View Next Steps and Closing Remarks session recording

Read Next Steps and Closing Remarks transcript (PDF 179KB)