Initiatives

    The SOGI Commission has been working on ways to grow lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) attorney participation in the ABA, legal profession and justice system.One of the benefits of ABA membership is access to the many American Bar Endowment (ABE) insurance plans. These plans had failed to make available domestic partner coverage. The Commission has worked with ABE to expand coverage to include domestic partners thereby adding a meaningful benefit to LGBT attorney members and added revenue to ABE. The SOGI Commission is continuing to work with ABI to expand their coverage to LGBT attorneys and their domestic partners.Other current SOGI Commission projects include:

    Projects

    ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (MRPC) Initiative

    The Commission has been working with Standing Committee on Ethics and Proessional Responsibility (SCEPR) on changes to the MRPC. The proposed changes specifically deal with an amendment to ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4 to include a nondiscrimination provision in black-letter standard. Information on the newly redlined rule can be found by clicking here.

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    How to Be an Ally Toolkit/Annual Meeting Initiative

    This toolkit is a customizable free training resource, educates employees about being a better ally to their LGBT coworkers. This online Toolkit provides law firms, corporate legal departments, companies, and corporations with the materials needed to represent a successful LGBT Ally training program. www.ambar.org/ally

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