Diversity Committee Description

The Diversity Committee strives to promote diversity within Section membership and our practice. We recognize, and embrace, that the members of our legal community as well as our clientele, have evolved into a rich mosaic of people from diverse cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. As an organization, and as lawyers, we need to better understand the broader issues of diversity, as well as the cultural norms and the cultural differences of our society as a whole and how these issues impact the practice of Family Law and the families that we serve.

The Diversity Committee is a Standing Committee. Standing committees are established and authorized by Council or by the Chair with the advice and consent of Council and are responsible to Council.

The Diversity Committee Chair is appointed by the Chair Elect, upon consultation with the Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary of the section, to serve during the upcoming year. The appointment is to be made by June 1^st. The Chair’s term begins at the conclusion of the annual meeting and continues for one year.

The committee chair has the following responsibilities which can be accomplished by working with a Vice-Chair or Co-Chair:

1. Facilitate the submission of CLE proposals from committee members and to produce CLE programs when a topic relevant to the committee is selected by the CLE Committee for inclusion in an upcoming CLE conference, and when directed to do so by the CLE Committee Chair or Co-Chairs. This may include working with the CLE Committee to suggest speakers and finalize titles, descriptions, and educational materials.
2. Coordinating committee members to post materials on the Committee’s webpage which serves as a home for all substantive area knowledge sharing.
3. Writing and submitting a column for the Committee Corner section of the E-Newsletter when requested.
4. Using the committee list serve to communicate with the committee regarding upcoming meetings, CLE proposals, special projects and other topics relevant to the committee.
5. When a committee project requires financing, the committee chair is responsible for making a formal budget request to the Finance Officer in a timely manner.
6. Working to incorporate the benefits of strengthening diversity in all of the Section’s programming.
7. Proactively work with the CLE committee, the Member Benefit Development Committee and the Editorial/Publications committees to incorporate these concepts into the Section's programming.
8. Proactively invite Section members and members of the bar from diverse and minority backgrounds to join the Section and the Committee.
9. Administer the Section’s Family Law Fellowship Program.
10. Review and Update the Section’s Diversity Plan as appropriate.
11. Communicating with the committee’s council liaison to facilitate communication with section leadership.
12. The Chair of the Committee is required to submit a status report to the Section’s Council to be included in the Fall, Spring, and Annual Meeting Agenda books.
13. Be prepared to give an oral report at council upon request.

Committee Features

• The Diversity Committee is a Standing Committee.
• Chair is appointed by the Chair Elect for the upcoming year.
• Traditionally one Co-Chair is the Vice Chair of the Section.
• The committee meets at the Fall and Spring CLE conferences.
• Status reports are submitted to Council for the Fall, Spring & Annual Meeting Agenda books.
• Committee is open to membership by any active member of the section.
• The Chair of the Section will appoint a Vice-Chair to facilitate leadership transition.
• The Committee administers the Section’s Family Law Fellowship Program.