By: Kayla Cruz
Last week, the National Bar Association kicked off its 97th Annual Convention from July 24th to 29th in the Home of Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll, Memphis, Tennessee. The city’s rich culture and influence was the perfect complement to an event that brought together legal professionals and thought-leaders from all over the world. The Convention’s weeklong itinerary included award ceremonies, luncheons, continuing legal education courses, live entertainment, a career fair, and more.
Legal Innovators made an appearance at the Convention and in the exhibit hall to share information about our innovative approach to recruitment, our commitment to DE&I initiatives, and to inform current law students about our mentorship and training program. On the first day, Scott and I made connections with partners, diversity officers, and students preparing to go through the on-campus interview process in August. Later on, we took a trip to the National Civil Rights Museum where we learned about the many movements that took place during the civil rights era and Dr. Martin Luther King’s unfortunate last days in Memphis.
The Women Lawyers Division (WLD) of the NBA held a breakfast awards ceremony to commemorate its 50th anniversary and to celebrate the women who started it all. In 1971, WLD started as an informal coalition of 18 women who held the first organizational meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. Since its inception, WLD has carved out a voice for women in a male-dominated industry and tackles issues affecting women, children, and family. The ceremony ended with a speech from the Honorable Bernice Donald reminding us to remain humble, check our judgment of others, and to use our positions of privilege for greater good. The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) also held a luncheon to honor the young trailblazing attorneys making their impact in the world. During the luncheon, incoming officers for the division were inducted.
On our final day in Memphis, Legal Innovators attended the Corporate Law Forum where in-house and transactional attorneys gathered for discussions on the business side of lawyering. One discussion focused on businesses in the post-Covid era, specifically, how hiring and recruitment practices have had to evolve. Some of the panelists included Donise Brown, Corporate Counsel at Starbucks; Naima Stevenson Starks, Deputy General Counsel at Varsity Brands; and Danielle Pierre, Litigation Counsel at Google. One panelist, Donise Brown, talked about how she ensures that diversity and inclusion practices are upheld in her department. Other panelists discussed how to attract young talent in a time when hybrid and remote working is the preferred method.
The NBA’s Convention was a space for learning, growing, making connections, and understanding the many sides of the legal field. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many accomplished attorneys, judges, and business owners. Legal Innovators hopes that its impact was felt during our time there, as we felt from so many others.
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