Moving Pittsburgh's Legal Community Forward, Together | |
Law Student Kickoff to Summer Event
June 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Aslin Beer Company
| | Are you a law student who will be working in Pittsburgh this summer? Are you interested in building your network of colleagues from diverse backgrounds? If yes, then join the PLDIC and co-sponsor ACBA’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Diversity Committee for a kickoff to summer event for law students on Wednesday, June 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Aslin Beer Company. All law students working in the Pittsburgh area this summer are invited to attend and meet fellow Pittsburgh area summer law clerks, PLDIC leadership (including the Young Professional Advisory Board), and YLD Leadership. There will also be an opportunity to sign up for a mentor if you don't already have one. | |
How to be Invaluable to Your Clients as a Junior Associate: the Unwritten Rules to Succeed
June 24 from 4-5:30 p.m., Meyer Unkovic & Scott
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The PLDIC’s Corporate Roundtable will host a panel event targeted toward lawyers with five or less years of experience, particularity those working in law firms. Panelists will share the client’s perspective on what junior associates in law firms can do to make themselves invaluable both to their firms and their clients. Often these tips and strategies are not written down and are only learned through experience or mentorship. Panelists will share these “unwritten rules” in a candid discussion, with plenty of time for audience Q&A and networking at the end.
Confirmed Panelists:
- Bridgette Dziedzic, Sr. Manager of Legal Services, Duquesne Light Company
- Shanicka Kennedy, Lead Counsel, Litigation, FedEx
- Rick McMahon, Managing Director, Associate General Counsel, BNY
- Cristian Minor, Senior Associate Counsel, UPNC
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David Ross, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel & Enterprise Compliance, Giant Eagle, Inc.
- Catrina Smith, Associate Counsel, Alcoa
- Tony Thompson, Counsel, Dollar Bank/PLDIC Board Vice Chair
- + more to come!
| | PLDIC members and guests are invited to join the ACBA's LGBTQ+ Rights Committee to celebrate Pride in Pittsburgh at the following events: | |
June 7, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Downtown
PLDIC members and guests are invited to join the ACBA at the LGBTQ+ Rights Committee and march in the Pittsburgh Pride Parade. By participating, you are showing support for the LGBTQIA+ community, and highlighting the Pittsburgh Legal Community’s commitment to equality, inclusion and justice. Represent the legal community in one of Pittsburgh’s most vibrant and meaningful annual celebrations. Following the parade, participants are invited to join the committee for a casual fellowship gathering to continue the celebration and connect with fellow ACBA members and supporters. Additional details about the meeting location and post-parade gathering will be shared with all registered participants in advance of the event.There is no cost to participate, but registration is encouraged to help coordinate the ACBA group’s involvement. For more info, contact Chance Wideman.
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June 11, 6:30-9:30 p.m., PNC Park
All PLDIC members and their guests are invited to join the ACBA’s LGBTQ+ Rights Committee in celebrating Pride Month by attending Pride Night at PNC Park as the Pirates take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pride Night celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community within the Pirates fan base, the Pittsburgh community, and all of Major League Baseball. This annual event is a great opportunity to gather with colleagues, friends and allies for a night of baseball, community and celebration. The ACBA group will be seated in the Pirates Cove All-You-Can-Eat section, which includes unlimited hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and soft drinks throughout the game. Learn more about the seating here. In addition to the game, fans can stay after the final out for a spectacular Zambelli Fireworks display, making it a perfect summer evening at the ballpark. Tickets are $55 per person and includes access to the all-you-can-eat seating section.
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PLDIC Board Elects New Treasurer
Congratulations, Jim English!
| | At the April 8 PLDIC Board meeting, the Board elected Jim English, (pictured left) FedEx, to serve as new PLDIC Treasurer, effective immediately. Thank you to Jim for stepping up to volunteer for this important role in the Coalition. Jim will replace Peter Russ, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney. Peter has served as Treasurer since the PLDIC's inception nine years ago, establishing financial processes and systems to help the PLDIC run smoothly. Former PLDIC leadership shared some additional thoughts to thank Peter for going above and beyond. Jennifer Park, Dentons, Cohen & Grigsby, is also departing the PLDIC Board. Both Russ and Park are founding Board members, and the PLDIC thanks them for their longtime service and commitment to the Board. | | New Jobs: PLDIC Job Board | | Looking for a new job in the Pittsburgh legal community? Don't forget to sign up for job alerts so you get notified when the type of job that you're looking for in the Pittsburgh legal community becomes available. Interested in submitting new jobs to the PLDIC Job Board on behalf of your organization? PLDIC member organizations can submit a request to become a job board manager. | Free Resources Available to Nonmembers! | PLDIC members have access to hundreds of free resources on our Member Dashboard, but did you know that our website offers a number of free resources as well (including a summary of our recent event, "A Year of Change, and Where We Go From Here")? | It's Not Too Late to Celebrate the Draft! | As the NFL draft wraps up, the PLDIC is proud to announce our 2026 starting lineup! If you’d like to help us find new members so that we can grow in our mission while doing something fun at your firm/organization for draft week, please let us know and we’ll get you some "draft pick" cards to set out in your office for colleagues to suggest new players for our PLDIC team! | Have You Joined our LinkedIn Group Yet? | | |
Don't forget about the PLDIC Community Building Committee's new LinkedIn group, "PLDIC Community Connections." This group is open to anyone in the Pittsburgh Legal Community (PLDIC members and nonmembers) looking for ways to connect and build your local community.
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PLDIC Spring Members Meeting
April 15, Energy Innovation Center
| | Nearly 70 attendees representing over half of PLDIC member organizations gathered for the PLDIC’s 2026 “draft-themed” Spring Members Meeting on April 15 at the Energy Innovation Center. Our event speakers were Jim Rooney and Professor N. Jeremi Duru, who discussed how leaders can advance racial equity with their presentation, “The Leader’s Role in Equity, Race and Opportunity.” Their candid conversation gave unparalleled insights into the Rooney Rule (named after Jim’s father), the NFL policy requiring league teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. They outlined the Rule’s strengths and weaknesses, providing insight into how leaders can create their own pathways for effective workplace policies. A live Q&A session provided attendees a chance to ask insightful questions. Guests also heard updates from PLDIC leadership and had ample time for networking over tailgate-themed food from Bistro To Go and a fun bar from Pittsburgh Mobile Bars. | |
Penn State Dickinson Law's Diversity Banquet
April 9, Penn State
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On April 9, PLDIC Executive Director Ena Lebel was a speaker at Penn State Dickinson Law's Annual Diversity Banquet, hosted by the Student Bar Association's Law & Equity Committee. The evening was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate diversity, reflect on inclusion within the legal profession, and honor the student groups that help create a more welcoming environment at Penn State Dickinson Law.
| | Juneteen Celebration
June 13, all day at Les Getz Memorial Park, Swissvale
PLDIC members are invited to come enjoy this celebration! | | |
Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition
Union Trust Building, 501 Grant Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
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