Welcome to the first edition of the LCLD INSIDER, our new monthly newsletter to Members and supporters of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. With our membership and momentum growing, we thought it would help to post regular updates about the activities of our Members and committees, and the organization itself. This publication is for you, and we welcome your feedback and ideas, as well as any news you might be interested in passing along. We also encourage you to share the INSIDER with your support staff, diversity directors, and public relations and/or marketing departments to keep them better informed about what LCLD is doing. Thanks again for reading, and for your membership in LCLD.
-Robert Grey, Executive Director
Register NOW for the LCLD Annual Meeting
Make plans now to attend LCLD's second Annual Meeting, to be held September 14-16, 2011 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. Featured speakers will be Cory Booker of Newark, NJ, one of America's most dynamic mayors, and John Pepper, former Chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble. A lot has happened since the 2010 Meeting, and this year we're making big plans to BUILD on LCLD's success. So don't wait any longer to reserve your place: Click here to register!
Pipeline launches its 1L Scholars program at Chicago Summit
The Pipeline Committee unveiled one of its signature programs at a summit conference in Chicago on July 18 and 19. Selected from hundreds of diverse applicants, 56 first-year law students gathered as honored LCLD 1L Scholars, who stand to benefit from individual and group mentoring by the LCLD Fellows and Members during their time in law school. It's part of Pipeline's initiative to help the most talented diverse students make the transition from college to law school, excel while there, and succeed in crafting a leadership career in the law. To see a selection of photographs from the Summit, clickhere.
New Fellows section of the LCLD web site goes live
Want to know the LCLD Fellows better? Now all you have to do is visit the new Fellowssection of the LCLD web site, where you can meet our rotating Featured Fellows, browse the Class of 2011's photographs and biographies, and learn more about one of LCLD's most exciting programs.
Robert Grey talks Generation L in Open Minded
Speaking of promising 1L Scholars and up-and-coming Fellows, Robert Grey devotes his blog this week to an appreciation of Generation L-the next generation of leaders whose commitment, enthusiasm, and diversity may very well be the future of American law. "Want to know what the legal profession will look like in 2025?" Robert writes. "Keep your eye on Generation L!" Read more here.
LCLD 2010 Annual Meeting wins design award
The graphics for LCLD's 2010 Annual meeting, based on the theme of "OPEN," won a coveted Best in Category at the 2011 AIGA Greater Richmond Awards for Design Excellence. J H I, the Richmond, Virginia-based design firm responsible for the OPEN-themed invitations, posters, notebooks, signage and mailings, vows to top themselves with their designs for LCLD's 2011 Annual Meeting next month.
LCLD in the News
July was a big month for Pipeline: The 1L Scholars Summit in Chicago was covered here, and Pipeline Chair Brad Smith was named recipient of the 2011 Exemplar Award by the National Legal Aid and Defender Association for his contributions to pro bono assistance and legal diversity. Earlier this summer LCLD Executive Director Robert Grey was quoted here about a slight rise in U.S. legal diversity numbers. And last month LCLD Board member Frank Burch, Chair of DLA Piper Global, began his service as Chairman of Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, which includes Johns Hopkins' Hospital, School of Medicine, and Health System. Burch's appointment was announced in March.
Welcome new Members!
Six more law firms have joined LCLD since the first of June:
- Linklaters, LLP
- Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
- Dickstein Shapiro, LLP
- Salmon, Lewis & Weldon PLC
- Oliff & Berridge, PLC
- Williams Mullen Clark & Dobbins
Our upcoming Annual Meeting will be a great time to get to know our new Members. And to everyone who hasn't registered yet: Please do it here today — we need a head count!
