Congratulations to the nine members of the inaugural Young Professional Advisory Board (YPAB): Bryant Andrews, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Devon Ferris, Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote; Kelsey Gdovin, FedEx Ground; Taylor Gillan, Ogletree Deakins; Derrick Maultsby Jr., Frost Brown Todd; Sidnee McDonald, Cozen O'Connor; Brandy Ringer, Schnader; Mollie Rosenzweig, Edgar Snyder & Associates; and Sarah Winters, Fox Rothschild. The YPAB will be responsible for providing advice and suggestions to PLDIC committees and working groups on issues of particular interest to new attorneys to help inform programming and resources; and for the selection of and completion of a project that aims to solve a diversity, equity, and inclusion challenge PLDIC members have. The YPAB held its first meeting on July 26 and elected its officers.

Thanks to everyone who attended our first ever PLDIC Family Picnic at Forbes/Braddock Shelter and Playground on Saturday, August 26. More than 50 attendees, including representation from 10 member organizations, enjoyed the green space, playgrounds, food, and most importantly - good company! Special thank you to Rebeca Miller, Aarthi Murty, and Tony Thompson for all your support and help to make this event a success!

In case you missed it, Executive Director Ena Lebel sent out a letter to all email subscribers earlier this month detailing the PLDIC's progress and ways you can deepen your involvement in the Coalition moving forward. There are many ways to get involved, and we need YOU. Together, we can make our profession, our city, our region – a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive place – if we work together.

The PLDIC is excited to announce the launch of our new PLDIC Movie Club! The Club’s first meeting will be held on Thursday, September 14 from 5:15-6:45 p.m. at Social House 7. They will be discussing Everything Everywhere All at Once. Please RSVP by September 12 to Dan Hargreaves.

The PLDIC Community Building Committee designed this program to be a monthly on-going series, alternating between a brave/safe space for facilitated conversations and discussions about external events impacting our lives; and classes focused on tools to build mental and physical health and to learn skills to successfully navigate difficult situations at work. The first session was held on August 16 with a productive conversation about the SCOTUS affirmative action case. Further resources on this topic can be found below.

Upcoming sessions (all to be held at Eckert Seamans) please register for security purposes:

The goal of this workshop is to give participants the knowledge, the right mindset, the techniques, and the skills to avoid and, if necessary, overcome an attack or confrontation with an attacker. Taught by Sensei George J. Mowod of USA Professional Karate.

The Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County (ATLAC), in collaboration with the PLDIC, will present “Racial Equity in the Legal Profession” on September 21 from 3-5 p.m. at the Union Trust Building. The program will provide 1 ethics and 1 substantive PA CLE credits and feature keynote speaker Michelle Silverthorn. PLDIC Executive Director Ena Lebel will moderate the session, which will feature panelists including U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge, Western District of Pennsylvania; Gregory B. Jordan, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, PNC Financial Services Group; Rosa Copeland Miller, Managing Attorney, FedEx Ground; Jason Hazlewood, Managing Partner, Pittsburgh for Reed Smith; and Silverthorn. ATLAC or PLDIC members are $100 and non-members are $110. 

The definitive comprehensive and foundational text for critically analyzing and applying actionable DEI techniques and strategies, written by our upcoming presenter, Lily Zheng! Be sure to get your copy in advance of our event with them on October 19.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Law Professional Development Office is offering a unique opportunity for Pitt Law alums to be a part of cutting edge research to diversify our profession. Tommy Latino, the Executive Director of the PDO, conducted a research study while at Florida State University Law which utilized a highly unbiased race/gender neutral psychometric assessment, to create a predictive model that was 72% accurate in predicting ‘fit’ between transactional law and litigation. Given the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the use of racial preferences in college admissions, it is imperative that we find other ways to bring diversity to our profession. If you are interested in participating in a study demonstrating the ability to create a model predictive of ‘fit’ that transcends race and gender, please email Tommy. All you will need to do is spend 20 minutes completing a paper and pencil assessment to help create a model that reduces implicit bias in the hiring process.  

BNY Mellon’s Legal Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leadership team invites PLDIC membership to a networking cocktail reception in Pittsburgh, featuring remarks by BNY Mellon’s General Counsel, Kevin McCarthy. This event will provide a unique opportunity to engage with BNY Mellon General Counsel and network with legal colleagues and professionals from the Pittsburgh area! Register by October 3. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Ray or Kasi Reyes with BNY Mellon.

The ACBA is accepting letters of interest from members interested in serving on the Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) Board of Directors. NLS is the largest provider of civil legal aid in Allegheny County. For over fifty years NLS has represented low-income clients affected by issues that threaten their safety, housing, and economic security. The Director will serve for a period of three years beginning in October of 2023. The NLS Board meets a minimum of six times per year. Meetings begin at 4 p.m. and are held virtually or at the NLS Offices located on Penn Ave. in downtown Pittsburgh. There is one position available for appointment by the Board of Governors of the ACBA. Email a letter of interest along with a resume to David Blaner, ACBA Executive Director, by September 1.

Burns White Receives Midsize Mansfield Rule Certification Status

Does your organization have DEI news? The PLDIC actively seeks news about our members' DEI wins, as well as accomplishments of diverse lawyers in our member organizations. Please submit related items to PLDIC Communications Director Megan Edwards.

Recently, the PLDIC discussed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action in college admissions during our first meeting of the Brave Space/Self Care Series. Many former and future PLDIC speakers have written helpful articles about how we as a legal community can navigate the fallout from this decision. Even as corporate and law firm DEI programs are under attack, the PLDIC remains steadfast in our mission to educate our members and create a culture of inclusion in our Pittsburgh legal community.