Diversity Conference to Address Challenges Faced by Women of Color in Legal Profession

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 22, 2012 - Current law students, practitioners, and jurists will come together at American University Washington College of Law for "Women of Color and the Law: Gaining Access, Achieving Success, " a conference on March 30.  Event participants will discuss the challenges that women of color face in gaining access to legal employment and services.  

Veryl Miles, dean of the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America, will deliver keynote remarks at the event. 

The morning session of the conference will feature a roundtable discussion on legal employment among members of various areas of legal practice. Following the discussion, participants will have an opportunity to network with other attendees during a reception and business card exchange.

In addition to the keynote address by Dean Veryl Miles, a conference luncheon will feature remarks by Jasmine Pierce, winner of the 2011 Alice Paul Feminist Jurisprudence Essay Contest, sponsored by the law school’s Women and the Law Program and Legal Rhetoric Program. 

Attendees will end the day’s events with a discussion of access to legal and support services for women of color and how attendees can support them in those efforts.  Myra Wilder (’07), assistant director of student affairs at American University Washington College of Law, will lead the afternoon program.

Roundtable speakers:

  • Midwin Charles (’99), Midwin Charles & Associates; member, American University Washington College of Law Dean’s Diversity Council
  • The Honorable Marisa Demeo, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
  • Ada Loo (’01), counsel for the Boeing Company
  • Jennifer Thomas, recruiting coordinator, Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia
  • Marianela Peralta, general counsel, Walmart; member, D.C. Bar Board of Governors
  • Monica Parham, counsel, Crowell & Moring
  • Radhika Singh Miller, program manager, Equal Justice Works
  • Natacha Thys (’96), senior legal advisor, Africa Division, Rule of Law Initiative of the American Bar Association
  • Nabila Isa-Odidi (’05), practitioner-in-residence, American University Washington College of Law

Afternoon panel:

  • John Bess, resource coordinator, Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia
  • Laurie Ball Cooper, Skadden fellow and immigration staff attorney, Tahirih Justice Center
  • The Honorable Diane Harris Epps, Superior Court of the District of Columbia
  • Lydia Watts (’96), director of quality and program enhancement, Civil Division, National Legal Aid and Defender Association; co-founder, WEAVE
  • Christina Wilkes, legal director, AYUDA
  • Representative of the D.C. RAPE Crisis Center

More information or register for the event.

Media interested in attending the event should contact Megan Smith, 202-274-4276.

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About American University Washington College of Law

In 1896, American University Washington College of Law became the first law school in the country founded by women. More than 100 years since its founding, this law school community is grounded in the values of equality, diversity, and intellectual rigor. The law school's nationally and internationally recognized programs (in clinical legal education, trial advocacy, international law, and intellectual property to name a few) and dedicated faculty provide its 1700 JD, LL.M., and SJD students with the critical skills and values to have an immediate impact as students and as graduates, in Washington, DC and around the world. For more information, visit wcl.american.edu.