Presidential Appointments
The ABA presidential committee appointments process for the Association year beginning September 1, 2021, has launched. The ABA has approximately 100 standing and special committees, commissions, and task forces focused on the Association’s core goals: 1) serving our members; 2) improving the profession; 3) eliminating bias and enhancing diversity; and 4) advancing the rule of law. Each year, terms expire for approximately one-third of the committee members. We invite you to self-nominate or nominate someone else. The website will include a list of committees along with links to more information about each entity. Recommendations must be received by February 19, 2021 for consideration. Please note that ABA membership is required for service on ABA entities. The only exception is membership on commissions where non-lawyer experts are allowed to serve. Applicants can join the ABA by visiting https://www.americanbar.org/membership.
If you have any questions about the committees, the appointments process, or what serving on a committee entails, please contact Danielle Norwood, [email protected], in the Office of the President.
Goal III Appointments
In furtherance of ABA Goal III, the Diversity and Inclusion Center is seeking to help strengthen diversity and inclusion in ABA leadership by creating a diverse presidential nominee list that it will support and share with the Appointments Committee. Diverse nominees should also provide their names, demographic, and other relevant information via the confidential Goal III Presidential Appointments Form. As indicated earlier, the Diversity and Inclusion Center will include this information on a diverse presidential nominee list that it will support and share with the Appointments Committee.
ABA-Wide 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge ©
The ABA Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council is excited to launch the “ABA-Wide 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge ©.” The challenge began on Monday, February 8, and goes every day for the remainder of Black History Month. This Challenge is “ABA-Wide” because the syllabus includes submissions of relevant resources, including ABA-published ones, from several Sections, Divisions, Forums, and Commissions. This version of the Challenge represents collaboration and collective engagement across the ABA’s entities on the topic of racial equity.
For more information and to participate, click here.
Internship Opportunities for Law Students with Disabilities
The ABA Commission on Disability Rights is offering three exciting internship opportunities for law students with disabilities for the summer of 2021, in partnership with leading corporations. All three internships are open to students who will have completed their first year of law school in good standing, and offer a chance for these students to develop their skills and further their careers.
More information can be found on the ABA-CDR website, and at the following pages dedicated to the specific internship opportunities:
Prudential (applications due February 12, 2021):
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/resources/lawstudents/aba_prudential_internship/
Microsoft (applications due February 15, 2021):
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/resources/lawstudents/msaba-internship/
For further information, please email CDR Staff Director Amy Allbright at [email protected].
Family Law Schwab Essay Contest
The ABA Section of Family Law is offering its annual Schwab Essay Contest. Student award winners receive the publication of their essays, a monetary prize, and other benefits. To enter, one must submit an entry form by April 9, 2021 and essays are due April 23, 2021.
Business Law Diversity Clerkship Program
Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Diversity Clerkship, current eligible second year law students are encouraged to apply.
The Diversity Clerkship Program is a summer program that provides business law clerkship placements for qualified diverse second year law students. Participating clerks receive support and mentoring in the business law field and exposure to business practices that many of them lack.
The purpose of the Diversity Clerkship Program is to provide hands-on experience and exposure in Business Law to law students. Roles and responsibilities of selected Diversity Clerkship participants include but are not limited to the following: researching cases, drafting memoranda and opinions, observing trials, and networking with local attorneys and judges. In addition to a placement in a business court clerkship, Diversity Clerkship participants will also receive a stipend of $3,000 to cover living expenses for the duration of the 8-week clerkship.
More information can be found online at ambar.org/blclerkship
Re-Imagining Legal Education: Innovations in Pipeline Programs
The Section is co-sponsoring a series of programs sponsored by the ABA Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline. The ten-part series of collaborative programming addresses a number of issues impacting the pipeline to the legal profession with the goal of strengthening that pipeline.
For full program details and registration information, click here.