In the years since NJAJ’s bylaws established a standing DE&I Committee, we have focused our efforts on identifying and implementing strategies to foster growth of each of the committee’s three pillars – diversity, equity and inclusion. But in the world at-large, we are seeing concerning trends in attitudes regarding DE&I initiatives. These attitudes range from a lack of understanding as to why these values are important, to outright existential threats towards these initiatives, such as Florida’s attempt to prohibit even discussion of the topic in schools or the workplace. 

Long before her term began in 2023, President Giordano has championed efforts to promote DE&I among NJAJ’s membership. As president, she has called attention to the danger of letting these hostile attitudes fester rather than confronting them. She has urged the committee to educate the membership on the value of DE&I as well as its impact on the practice of law.  As co-chairs of the DE&I Committee, we are answering her call to action, in part, by stepping back from our own individual perspectives on why this mission is critical and worthy of our time and efforts. Instead, we want to focus on a broader range of perspectives and experiences in the legal community who are impacted by the presence, or lack, of each of these pillars in our profession.

This is the focus of the DE&I Program at this year’s Boardwalk Seminar: The Business Case for DE&I. 

Often when we hear the phrase “business case,” we think of commercial enterprises driving profits. Perhaps a retailer looks at diversifying its marketing campaign to make their products more attractive to consumers of different backgrounds. Perhaps a national bank seeks to hire from within local communities of their branches to better understand the needs of their customers and better tailor their services and products to meet those needs.

As attorneys, our business has a unique set of concerns and stakeholders. Yes, we run businesses (firms) that seek revenue, profit and prosperity. But as attorneys and officers of the court, we are also governed and guided by significant ethical rules that must supersede the pursuit of money when those two interests conflict.

And as NJAJ members, we have chosen to dedicate our careers to helping people with less power who have been harmed by the more powerful to get whatever justice our laws can provide them. Our business inherently includes, and depends on, the pursuit of justice, which is also the ultimate aim of DE&I efforts.

For Boardwalk Seminar 2024, the DE&I Program’s co-chairs (DE&I Committee Members Deborah S. Dunn, Esq., Lauren B. Jones, Esq. and DE&I Committee Co-Chair Jasmine Brown Seabrooks, Esq.) have cultivated a diverse slate of topics and speakers to offer insights on DE&I throughout the lifespan of a trial lawyer’s professional journey.

Some of the program highlights will include:

• The Basics – Defining DE&I and Key Business/Professional Drivers. President Patricia M. Giordano, Esq. will join DE&I Committee Co-Chair Drake P. Bearden, Jr., Esq. to highlight NJAJ’s Statement of Mission and Values and the reasons they are important not only to the organization’s future, but also the future of our practices.
• In the Firm – Managing Partner Perspectives. Managing attorneys Michael G. Donahue, III, Esq., Daniel N. Epstein, Esq., Hala Jaloudi, Esq. and Shannon L. McGroarty, Esq. will team up to provide insight on their firms’ DE&I efforts and the impact of those efforts on growing their firms as well as on their own personal and professional sensibilities as leaders.
• At Trial – Attorney and Judicial Perspectives. Tyler D. Bailey, Esq. and the Hon. Janetta D. Marbrey, J.S.C. (Ret.) will discuss their respective trial experiences in confronting and successfully overcoming juror bias.

The Boardwalk Seminar 2024 DE&I Program will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2024, immediately following President Giordano’s welcome address and the NJAJ membership meeting and election of officers for 2024-2025. You can also access the most up-to-date program information by selecting Boardwalk Seminar 2024 on the NJAJ home page and scrolling down to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion link in the program list for April 18.

We hope you will join the program co-chairs and speakers for a robust day of education and discussion, and add your own unique perspective to the mix.

Authored by Miriam S. Edelstein, Esq. on behalf of the DE&I Committee Co-Chairs, consisting of Drake P. Bearden, Esq., Miriam S. Edelstein, Esq., James S. Lynch, Esq., Jasmine Brown Seabrooks, Esq. and Sherwin Tsai, Esq.