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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:

  • Angel Gomez, President, AG Gomez Consulting

 

HLAI is transitioning its membership to a single annual renewal date for all members and memberships. Effective October 1, 2023, all HLAI Memberships will begin on October 1st and end on September 30th of each year. 

 

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Be a part of the premier bar association in the state of Illinois. HLAI is a fraternal and collegial network of Hispanic attorneys in Illinois. Join the many successful Hispanic attorneys within our ranks and carry on the legacy of HLAI. One of HLAI’s aims is to promote the common business interests, professional development, and general welfare of Hispanic attorneys. Join HLAI and receive THESE BENEFITS.