Transcript Wisconsin Association of African

Wisconsin Association of AfricanAmerican Lawyers
Specialty Bar
of the State Bar or Wisconsin
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely *
WAAL President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
Founded in 1988
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Atty. Larry Farris
Atty. Sherman Mitchell
Atty. Yolander Hardaway
Hon. Louis Butler
Atty. Rueben Daniels
Atty. Linda Flowers
Atty. Lela Davison
Initially known as WAMA (Wisconsin Association of Minority Attorneys)
Mission
To diversify the legal community and to be a source of information and inspiration to
fellow African-American lawyers and the community as a whole.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
Goals:
• Professional improvement of members
• Become and remain actively involved in and cooperate with creative forces in the
community
• Advocate needed legal and judicial reform to make justice available to all people
• Assist in eliminating root causes of poverty and powerlessness
• To defend against the denial of basic human and legal rights
• To use legal tools and discipline for the advancement of education, housing, business,
and economic development, health delivery systems and social institutions.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
Community Service – Main Thrust
Partnerships with State Bar and local law
firms:
• People's Law School,
• annual Mock Trial Competition for
urban high school students,
• Career Day
• judicial forums with other bar
associations,
• Street Law, and
• Various Trial competitions.
• Law student Reception – sponsored
by Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP.
• Diversity Dialogue Best Practices
&Workshop for Legal Professionals –
sponsored by Reinhart, Boerner, Van
Dueren, S.C. and Hupy & Abraham,
S.C.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
“VelanDale” Scholarship Award
WAAL Educational Foundation
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Over $50,000.00 distributed over the
past 19 years.
Scholarships to law students attending
Marquette University Law School and
the University of Wisconsin Law
School.
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Named in recognition of the Hon. Vel
Phillips and her late husband Dale
Phillips.
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Vel and Dale Phillips are an inspiration
to future African-American leaders in
the legal profession.
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Est. 2002
501(c)3
deductible under section 170 of
the Code
qualified to receive tax
deductible bequests, devises,
transfers or gifts under section
2055, 2106 or 2522 of the
Internal Revenue code.
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association
(NBA)
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
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Est. 1925
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Oldest and largest national association of predominately AfricanAmerican lawyers and judges.
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Represents a professional network of over 20,000 lawyers, judges,
educators, and law students.
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84 affiliate chapters.
WAAL is the Wisconsin Affiliate Chapter of the National Bar Association.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
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7/20/2015
PUBLICATIONS
POLITICAL ADVANCEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
CONFERENCES & SEMINARS
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
82nd Annual National Convention
Atlanta, GA
July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007
“Carrying the Torch – Leading by Example”
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
82nd Annual National Convention
Atlanta, GA
July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007
–Purpose
–Networking
–Continuing Legal Education
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
82nd Annual National Convention
Atlanta, GA
July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007
39 Seminars:
– 3rd Annual NITA Seminar
– Disability Appeals at the Administrative
Level
– Launching an International Law Practice
– Mediation:
– Incorporating Innovative techniques in
Family Court.
– Election Protection
– Asset Protection Planning
– Emerging Issue in Patent Law
7/20/2015
– Using Technology to attract
Clients
– Opening Statement :Go for the
Knockout
– Appellate Trial Process
– Labor Law & Employment
Update
– ABC’s of Courtroom Etiquette
– Tips from the Masters.
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
82nd Annual National Convention
Atlanta, GA
July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007
The Key issue:
Diversity in the Legal Profession
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Call to action
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Equal opportunity
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Pledge to Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
82nd Annual National Convention
Atlanta, GA
July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007
Call to action for positive and determined efforts to make a change.
Important to make “equal opportunity” fully available.
Pledge to action –Not only commit philosophically to the goals of
diversity but also commit resources toward activities that will have a
positive impact.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
National Bar Association (NBA)
82nd Annual National Convention
Atlanta, GA
July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007
What can the State Bar of Wisconsin
do?
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
State Bar of Wisconsin
Set the standard:
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Participation: To pursue full and equal participation of attorneys of color at all
professional levels in law firms
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Offers of Employment: To increase the number of offers of employment extended to
law students and attorneys of color
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Retention & promotion: To increase retention and promotion rates of attorneys of
color
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Legal Education: To encourage the legal education of diverse students of color in
our law schools by annual contributions
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Activities & Support: To show evidence of support of the pledge and to support
activities that will facilitate achievement of the goals of the pledge.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
State Bar of Wisconsin
Board of Governors:
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Keep generally informed on diversity related issues.
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Review the demographics on who’s graduating from our law
schools and where they are going.
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Include a report from the Diversity Outreach Committee at the
Board of Governor meetings.
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Continue your support of the specialty bars.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
State Bar of Wisconsin
To address diversity in the legal profession:
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Get organized
Set goals
Quantify results
Reinforce and Reward
Get Wisconsin lawyers on board
Stay informed
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
Diversity in the Legal Profession
Although we have made great strides in this
area over the past few years, we have more
work to do.
Diversity is a journey, not a destination.
Diversity requires effort, sensitivity and most
of all communication.
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers
Est. 1988
QUESTIONS?
7/20/2015
Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL
President 2007-08
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