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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers

Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers. Specialty Bar of the State Bar or Wisconsin. Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers Est. 1988. Founded in 1988 Atty. Larry Farris Atty. Sherman Mitchell Atty. Yolander Hardaway Hon. Louis Butler Atty. Rueben Daniels

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Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers

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  1. Wisconsin Association of African-American Lawyers Specialty Bar of the State Bar or Wisconsin Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  2. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Founded in 1988 • 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. Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  3. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 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. Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  4. Community Service – Main Thrust People's Law School, Career Day Street Law, and Various Trial competitions. Partnerships with State Bar and local law firms: annual Mock Trial Competition for urban high school students, judicial forums with other bar associations, 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. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  5. “VelanDale” Scholarship Award 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. Named in recognition of the Hon. Vel Phillips and her late husband Dale Phillips. Vel and Dale Phillips are an inspiration to future African-American leaders in the legal profession. WAAL Educational Foundation 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. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  6. National Bar Association (NBA) Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  7. National Bar Association (NBA) Est. 1925 Oldest and largest national association of predominately African-American lawyers and judges. Represents a professional network of over 20,000 lawyers, judges, educators, and law students. 84 affiliate chapters. WAAL is the Wisconsin Affiliate Chapter of the National Bar Association. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  8. National Bar Association (NBA) Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 • PUBLICATIONS • POLITICAL ADVANCEMENTS • INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS • CONFERENCES & SEMINARS Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  9. National Bar Association (NBA) 82nd Annual National Convention Atlanta, GA July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007 “Carrying the Torch – Leading by Example” Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  10. National Bar Association (NBA) 82nd Annual National Convention Atlanta, GA July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007 Purpose Networking Continuing Legal Education Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  11. 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 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. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 National Bar Association (NBA) 82nd Annual National Convention Atlanta, GA July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  12. The Key issue: Diversity in the Legal Profession Call to action Equal opportunity Pledge to Racial & Ethnic Diversity Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 National Bar Association (NBA) 82nd Annual National Convention Atlanta, GA July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  13. 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. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 National Bar Association (NBA) 82nd Annual National Convention Atlanta, GA July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  14. What can the State Bar of Wisconsin do? Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 National Bar Association (NBA) 82nd Annual National Convention Atlanta, GA July 28th – Aug. 4th, 2007 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  15. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 State Bar of Wisconsin Set the standard: • Participation: To pursue full and equal participation of attorneys of color at all professional levels in law firms • Offers of Employment: To increase the number of offers of employment extended to law students and attorneys of color • Retention & promotion: To increase retention and promotion rates of attorneys of color • Legal Education: To encourage the legal education of diverse students of color in our law schools by annual contributions • Activities & Support: To show evidence of support of the pledge and to support activities that will facilitate achievement of the goals of the pledge. Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  16. Board of Governors: Keep generally informed on diversity related issues. Review the demographics on who’s graduating from our law schools and where they are going. Include a report from the Diversity Outreach Committee at the Board of Governor meetings. Continue your support of the specialty bars. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 State Bar of Wisconsin Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  17. Get organized Set goals Quantify results Reinforce and Reward Get Wisconsin lawyers on board Stay informed Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 State Bar of Wisconsin To address diversity in the legal profession: Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  18. 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. Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

  19. QUESTIONS? Wisconsin Association of African-American LawyersEst. 1988 Presenter: N. Lynnette McNeely * WAAL President 2007-08

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