THE STATE OF THE LATINOS IN THE LAW SYMPOSIUM

Annually, under the leadership of Chief Judge Rubén Castillo, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Hispanic National Bar Association Region IX (HNBA), Illinois Latino Judges Association (ILJA), and Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA), an array of experts have been assembled in the academic, legal, and public policy communities to identify the root cause of challenges Latinos face in the legal profession, their educational journey, and their career cycles. These discussions derived specific strategies and recommendations that empowered stakeholders within our communities to effectively address and resolve those underlying conditions.

The State of Latinos in the Law Symposium featured many of the nation’s attorneys, legal scholars, corporate counselors, and judges. The Symposium consisted of an opening and closing plenary session, a guest lunch speaker, and concurrent panels running throughout the day.

2018 Program

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast, & Networking

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome & Problem Statement
Speakers:

Martín Montes, Director, Regulatory Affairs, ComEd
The Honorable Rubén Castillo, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Symposium Moderator:

Angel Gomez, President, AG Gomez Consulting

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Plenary Session: The State of Latinos in the Law
Speakers:

Robert L. Nelson, American Bar Foundation
Meghan Dawe, American Bar Foundation
Monica Llorente, Faculty Member, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Steven Hernandez, Senior Counsel, BP (Retired)
The Honorable Ramon Ocasio, III, Municipal Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Fourth Municipal District

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Morning Break
Symposium Moderator:

• Angel Gomez, President, AG Gomez Consulting

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session Track I: Early Education – Extending the Pipeline

Speakers:

Preston Kendall, President, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep
Laura Blackburn, Pre-Law Teacher, Jones College Prep
Rather Stanton, CEO & Co-Founder, Legal Prep Charter Academy
Jessica Velez, Associate, Johnson & Bell (President of the Associate Board of Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization)

Moderator: Mary Bird, Director of Public Service Programs, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law 3

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session Track II: Law School Admissions – Entering the Pipeline
Speakers:

Ann K. Perry, Associate Dean for Admissions, University of Chicago Law School
Austen L. Parrish, Dean and James H. Rudy Professor of Law, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Jamie Thomas-Ward, Director of Pre-Law Advising Services, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Moderator: Jennifer L. Rosato-Perea, Dean and Professor of Law, DePaul University College of Law

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch & Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Gustavo A. Gelpi,
Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Speaker:

The Honorable Gustavo A. Gelpi, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico

1:00 – 1:15 p.m. After Lunch Break

Symposium Moderator:

Angel Gomez, President, AG Gomez Consulting

1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Session Track III: Law School Education – Getting Through the Pipeline

Speakers:

Juan Perea, Curt and Linda Rodin Professor of Law and Social Justice, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Tiffany Harper, Associate Counsel, Grant Thornton LLP (Co-Founder, Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program)
Josie Gough, Curt and Linda Rodin Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Social Justice, Director of Experiential Learning, Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Arthur Acevedo, Professor of Law, John Marshall Law School

Moderator: Monica Llorente, Faculty Member, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Session Track IV: Public Sector – Advancing

Through the Public Pipeline

Speakers:

Sonia Antolec, Director of Legal Hiring and Recruiting, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Thor Inouye, Director of Attorney Recruiting and Professional Development, Illinois Attorney General’s Office
The Honorable David R. Navarro, Circuit Judge, Pretrial Division, Circuit Court of Cook County
Maribel Fernandez-Harvath, Director – Investigations, Global Compliance & Risk Management, Shire PLC

Moderator: Sergio E. Acosta, Co-Chair, White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice, Akerman LLP

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Breakout Session Track V: Private Sector – Advancing Through the Private Pipeline
Speakers:

Michael E. Martinez, Managing Partner, Chicago Office, K&L Gates LLP
Jesse Ruiz, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Dennis Garcia, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft
Gloria Santona, Of Counsel, Baker McKenzie

Moderator: Sulema Medrano, Partner, Smith Amundsen LLC

2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Breakout Session Track VI: Judicial Sector – Advancing

Through the Judiciary Pipeline
Speakers:

The Honorable Jesse G. Reyes, Presiding Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, Fifth Division
The Honorable Maria Valdez, Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The Honorable Dora L. Irizarry, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
The Honorable Gustavo A. Gelpi, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico

Moderator: The Honorable Rubén Castillo, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

3:45 – 4:00 p.m. Afternoon Break
Symposium Moderator:

Angel Gomez, President, AG Gomez Consulting

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Closing Plenary Session & Call to Action
Speakers:

Martín Montes, Director, Regulatory Affairs, ComEd
Juan Morado, President, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
The Honorable Rubén Castillo, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District Illinois

Symposium Moderator: