Membership Diversity Enhancement Program

If you are a diverse lawyer working in environmental, energy, and/or resources law, the SEER Membership Diversity Enhancement Program (MDEP) may be for you!

The purpose of MDEP is to enhance and promote diversity within SEER membership, committees, leadership, programs, and publications. 

Prospective SEER members who self-identify as diverse are encouraged to apply for MDEP. Diverse lawyers include those who come from diverse backgrounds (including racially diverse, LGBTQ+, and younger lawyers), diverse practice settings (including government, non-profit, academia, and solo practice), and those who are new to the practice of law.

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Selected MDEP participants will receive the following benefits:

• 50% payment of their ABA dues and waived SEER dues
• Complimentary registration to one SEER conference of their choice

The MDEP program is open to lawyers who self-identify as diverse, including but not limited to:

• Ethnically diverse lawyers
• Government lawyers (at any level of government)
• Lawyers admitted to practice for less than five years
• Lawyers in academia
• Lawyers who are 35 years old or younger
• Lawyers with disabilities
• LGBTQ+ lawyers
• Public-interest lawyers
• Racially diverse lawyers
• Solo practitioners
• Women lawyers

If selected, participants must agree to:

• Pay the balance of their ABA dues, upon notification after SEER pays 50%. 
• Join at least one SEER committee.
• Provide SEER with a valid e-mail address.
• Participate in SEER activities, such as writing an article, agreeing to serve as a vice chair on a committee, or participating in the planning of a program.
• Attend at least one SEER program using the complimentary registration provided by MDEP.

Additional information:

A limited number of applicants will be selected each year. Selection criteria include degree of involvement in practice areas and interest in the Section.

Consistent with the goal of increased membership diversity, the program especially encourages applicants who are not already ABA or SEER members and applicants whose dues are not reimbursed by their employer. Current ABA members are not eligible to receive 50% off their ABA dues as a part of this program.

All MDEP benefits are valid for one year following acceptance into the program.

Please contact Kevin Gordon with any questions about MDEP.