2023 LAP Minority Outreach Conference

The Power in Belonging

Feb. 24, 2023

McKimmon Center @NC State Campus

This year’s sponsors:

Approved for 5 CLE hours (2 general, 1 mental health, 2 ethics). The cost for this year’s conference is $25 per person, to offset lunch costs, paid in advance via EventBrite (with a small processing fee). In addition, you will be responsible to pay the $3.50 per credit hour fee to the State Bar CLE Department at the end of the year. Once registered, you will receive an email notification confirming your reservation. The location has free parking.

Cancellations must be received by 5:00 on Friday, February 17, 2023, in order to be eligible for a refund. Cancellations received after that date (including no-shows on the day of the event) cannot be refunded. We look forward to seeing you this year.

Agenda

8:30-9:30          Registration Check-In and Coffee

9:45-10:00        Welcoming Remarks – Ted Edwards

10:00-11:00       Affirmative Action Higher Education Cases – Ted Shaw

In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled in Grutter v. Bollinger that universities may consider race in their admissions processes as part of their efforts to achieve diversity on campus. In October, the Court heard oral arguments in a pair of cases, one of which involves UNC, asking them to overturn Grutter and outlaw race-based affirmative action in higher education altogether. Mr. Shaw will provide an overview of the history and legal precedent leading up to the current challenge giving special emphasis to recent challenges, including an analysis of legal arguments and constitutional interpretations.

11:00-12:00       History of Pioneering Black Lawyers in NC – James Williams and Ken Lewis

The early history (1850s-1950s) of pioneering Black lawyers in NC is almost completely unknown to today’s lawyers. These lawyers overcame insurmountable odds and obstacles. In this session, we will explore early history of Black lawyers in NC, including, the education, careers and experiences of these pioneers, and relevance of this history today. 

12:00-1:15         Lunch

1:15-2:45           Perspectives on Belonging and Lawyering Across Cultures –  Claudia McClinton, Angela Carter Jones, Manisha Patel, Larissa Mañón Mervin and Ted Edwards

Strong family and community ties and shared history contribute to a sense of belonging, all of which are essential for good mental health and a sense of well-being. Lawyering can be a very isolating career to begin with and especially so for minorities, who may feel alienated from both their home communities as well as their professional community. This panel will examine the concept of lawyering across different cultures, the sense of belonging, and its impact on lawyer mental health and well-being.

2:45-3:15            A Personal Story – Brandon Shelton

3:15-3:30            Break

3:30-4:30          The Power in Belonging – Courtney Leak

This session will examine the importance of positive mirroring for lawyers and judges to see ourselves reflected in a system that has not always been inclusive of us, how that translates into a sense of belonging and well-being as well as how that translates to our clients. Special emphasis on what happens to us both physically and emotionally when we are (or are not) receiving positive mirroring in our professional lives.

4:30                    Reception and networking