New Jersey Association for Justice Boardwalk Seminar Highlights DEI and Cultural Competency in the Legal Profession

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New Jersey Association for Justice’s Boardwalk Seminar did not disappoint, and this year felt especially meaningful.I had the distinct honor of co-chairing the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Program alongside, Sherwin Tsai, Judie Saunders, and Lauren B. Jones, Esq. Putting this program together was a labor of love, and seeing it come to life in front of such an engaged audience made every bit of the work worth it. DEI in our profession is not a checkbox. It is a commitment, and I am proud to be surrounded by people who take that seriously. Thank you to all of our speakers! I also had the privilege of moderating a panel on Cultural Competency Practice Tips from Intake to Discovery. This is a topic that touches every aspect of how we serve our clients, and our panelists, Judie Saunders, Norberto Garcia, Reiah Etwaroo, and Miriam Edelstein, did not hold back. The conversation was raw, real, and exactly the kind of dialogue our legal community needs to be having. While our time together was limited, the depth and passion of the audience's questions made one thing crystal clear: this is a topic our community wants and needs to explore further. Thank you to each of my panelists for bringing your full selves to that discussion. Your candor made all the difference.We also had a wonderful Women's Litigators Luncheon. The Hon. Ellen Torregrossa-O'Connor delivered a deeply reflective keynote, tracing her journey from Trial Lawyer to the Appellate Bench. Thank you to luncheon chairs Amanda Freyer, Esq. and Jessica R. Bland for bringing this event to life.And then there was Kate Jaycox. Kate traveled all the way from Minnesota to be with us, and I cannot thank her enough for accepting my invitation. She delivered a powerful and sobering presentation on Attorneys as Guardians of Democracy, a timely and urgent message that reframed how many of us think about our role beyond the courtroom. She gave us an unfiltered, on-the-ground look at what has been unfolding in Minnesota over the last few months, and the room was captivated. That kind of courage, to speak truth, to show up, to make the trip, is exactly what this moment in history calls for.Beyond the programming, I loved reconnecting with friends and witnessing some of New Jersey's finest attorneys doing what they do best: inspiring, educating, and pushing our profession forward. Cannot wait for next year.hashtag#NJAJ hashtag#BoardwalkSeminar hashtag#DEI hashtag#CulturalCompetency hashtag#AccessToJustice hashtag#TrialLawyers hashtag#GuardiansOfDemocracy hashtag#NewJerseyAttorneys hashtag#LegalCommunity hashtag#InclusionMatters

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