Diversity in the Profession Section--Committees
Names of the Chairs are in parentheses.
Diversity & Inclusion Conference Committee (Ann Park):
The D&I Conference Committee plans LACBA’s biennial, full-day Diversity and Inclusion Conference. The most recent conferences were held in 2023 and 2019 at Loyola Law School. The D&I Conference Committee is also tasked with establishing and maintaining a Diversity Scholarship funded with conference proceeds and donations to assist financially needy students interested in pursuing a career in the law.
Pre-Law Mentoring (Ann Park):
Since 2007, the Pre-Law Mentoring Committee has organized mentoring meetings and activities at Wilson High School in East Los Angeles and other schools in which lawyers and judicial officers mentor high-school students to encourage them to pursue careers in the legal profession.
Membership Committee (David Perkiss):
The Membership Committee seeks to expand the reach and participation of the DIP Section’s mission by collaborating with law firms, affiliate bar organizations, and the legal community at large to increase information about the DIP Section and its programming and to promote active engagement within it. Additionally, the committee works to provide guidance and help support opportunities to get involved in LACBA leadership.
Best Practices (Brian Moskal):
The Best Practices Committee facilitates LACBA’s pledge to increase diversity in the legal profession. This pledge program asks law firms, businesses, public legal departments, law schools, public service organizations, governmental agencies, and other legal organizations in Los Angeles County to committee to take two actions: (1) adopt the “Statement of Goals and Principles for the Legal Profession with Respect to Recruitment, Retention, and Promotion of Attorneys that are Members of Historically Underrepresented Groups”; and (2) agree to facilitate three actions from the “List of Best Diversity Practices.” The Best Practices Committee is also working to assist pledging organizations to meet their commitment and network with each other through free DEI-related continuing legal education, networking events, sharing of best practices, and other steps. Organizations that have taken the pledge are also featured prominently at LACBA DIP events.
MCLE (Elizabeth Bradley):
Our committee organizes valuable continuing education programming on issues relating to diversity and inclusion, and elimination of bias. We also seek and welcome opportunities to co-sponsor programming with other LACBA Sections and Committees, as well as other organizations, on topics relevant to the Diversity Section’s mission.
Judiciary Diversity Committee (Elizabeth Bradley):
Our committee educates attorneys on the path to the judiciary. We highlight paths through educational events to state court, federal court and administrative court. Our goal is to demystify the path to the judiciary and help increase diversity.
