NJSBA Diversity Summit:
Resetting, Renewing and Reframing DEI to Meet the Moment
Location: New Jersey Law Center or Webcast
Jan 28, 2025 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
NJSBA Diversity Summit: Resetting, Renewing and Reframing DEI to Meet the Moment
$125 per person (members);
$225 per person (non-members)*
* Includes a complimentary 12-month NJSBA membership for eligible attorneys who have not been members in the past two years.
Note: Complimentary membership can be declined but cannot be exchanged for discounts or applied to renewals and/or other NJSBA products or services. Please allow one week processing time for membership to take effect.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Find education, empowerment and collegiality at the New Jersey State Bar Association’s popular annual event focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. on Jan. 28. Hear from leading professionals in the field about how they are meeting this moment as they examine the challenges ahead. For those who choose to attend in-person, the day will include breakfast, lunch and a networking reception.
Presented in cooperation with: Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA-NJ) Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey (ABWL-NJ), Garden State Bar Association (GSBA), Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBANJ), Jewish Bar Association of New Jersey (JBAR), New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association (NJMLA), New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey (SABA-NJ).
Sponsored by
NJSBA Diversity Committee Co-Chairs
Valerie A. Jackson, Esq. Deputy Director of Legal, Compliance and Diversity at the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Trenton
Leonard V. Jones, Esq., Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Newark
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, New Jersey State Legislature
Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, New Jersey Legislature
Paulette Brown, Esq., Past President, American Bar Association & National Bar Association
Past Chair, NJSBA Labor & Employment Law Section
Ahmad T. Aboelezz, Esq., Vice President, U.S. General Counsel & Head, Legal, Cipla USA
Candice Alfonso, Esq., Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the New Jersey Department of the Treasury
Jackie Caban, Esq., Senior Assistant Prosecutor, Gloucester County Prosecutors Office
Rasmeet Chahil, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler, LLP; Vice President, Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey
Craig Dashiell, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler, LLP
Clifford D. Dawkins, Esq., Assistant Dean & Director, Minority Student Program (MSP), Rutgers Law School
Lora L. Fong, Esq., Assistant Attorney General & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Office of Attorney General, Trenton
Lloyd Freeman, Esq., Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Buchanan Ingersoll and Rooney, PC
Robert Johnson, Esq., Chief Diversity Officer, Gibbons PC, Newark
Galit Kierkut, Esq., Greenberg Traurig LLP
Cristal Lambert, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, ETS; President-Elect, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
James A. Lewis V, Esq., Chief DEI Officer, Cole Schotz, Hackensack; Immediate Past President, Garden State Bar Association
Jessica Lewis Kelly, Esq., Special Assistant to the Administrative Director, Administrative Office of the Courts
Brenda Maneri, Esq., First Assistant Prosecutor, Burlington County Prosecutors Office
Dr. Monise Princilus, Chief Diversity Officer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Prema Roddam, Esq., Fragomen; Immediate Past President, South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey
Nick Samedi, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler, LLP
Kenya Tyson, Esq., Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, Dartmouth University; President, Garden State Bar Association
Beth P. Zoller, Esq., KSBranigan Law P.C., Montclair
| 8:30 a.m. | Check-in and Breakfast |
| 9 -10:15 a.m. | Reset, Renew, Reframe Moderator: Valerie Jackson, Esq., Deputy Director of Legal, Compliance and Diversity at the New Jersey Department of the Treasury; Co-Chair, NJSBA Diversity Committee Panel: James A. Lewis V, Chief DEI Officer, Cole Schotz, Hackensack, Immediate Past President, Garden State Bar Association; Dr. Monise Princilus, Chief Diversity Officer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; Kenya Tyson, Esq., Dartmouth University; President, Garden State Bar Association; Beth P. Zoller, Esq., KSBranigan Law P.C., Montclair |
| 10:25-11:55 a.m. | Navigating Underrepresented Talent Recruiting Barriers Moderator: Paulette Brown, Esq., Past President, American Bar Association & National Bar AssociationPanel: Rasmeet Chahil, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler, LLP; Vice President, Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey; Craig Dashiell, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler, LLP; Clifford D. Dawkins, Esq. Dean & Director, Minority Student Program (MSP), Rutgers Law School |
| 11:55 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Grab lunch and come back for our next panel |
| 12:15-1:30 p.m. | Lunchtime Panel Discussion: The Local Picture Moderator: Leonard V. Jones, Esq., Co-Chair, NJSBA Diversity Committee; Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, NewarkPanel: Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, New Jersey Legislature; Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, New Jersey Legislature; Candice Alfonso, Esq., Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Department of the Treasury; Lora L. Fong, Esq., Assistant Attorney General & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Office of Attorney General, Trenton; Robert Johnson, Chief Diversity Officer, Gibbons PC |
| 1:40-2:55 p.m. |
Building Belonging: Examining the Role and Power of Employee Resource Groups and “Belonging” initiatives Moderator: Brenda Maneri, Esq., First Assistant Prosecutor, Burlington County Prosecutors Office Panel: Jackie Caban, Esq., Senior Assistant Prosecutor, Gloucester County Prosecutors Office; Cristal Lambert, Esq., Assistant General Counsel, ETS; President-Elect, Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey; Nick Samedi, Esq., Lowenstein Sandler, LLP |
| 3 – 4:15 p.m. | Building Inclusive Spaces Through Policy and Practice Moderator: Prema Roddam, Esq., Fragomen, Immediate Past President, South Asian Bar Association of New JerseyPanel: Ahmad T. Aboelezz, Esq., Vice President, U.S. General Counsel & Head, Legal, Cipla USA; Lloyd Freeman, Esq., Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Buchanan Ingersoll; Galit Kierkut, Esq., Greenberg Traurig; Jessica Lewis Kelly, Esq., Special Assistant to the Administrative Director, Administrative Office of the Courts |
| 4:30 p.m. | Networking Reception |
CLE Credits: |
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| NJ CLE: | NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 7.4 hours of total CLE credit, including 7.4 in Diversity (Full Credits Available: NJ Advanced Diversity: 7.4).. |
| NY CLE: | NY Diversity Non-Transitional: 7.0 |
| PA CLE: | PA Ethics Credit: 6.0 New: No PACLE fee is required for this program. To earn PA CLE credits, a valid PA Bar ID number must be entered into the CLE form provided after attending the program. |
Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
To secure your spot and receive important updates about our events, meetings, and other gatherings, such as schedule changes, remember to register in advance.
Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:
- The “My Links” section at the top of our website for in-person or online events
- Or, for online programs, the event access link included in your joining instructions
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If you need to cancel your registration and are not transferring to another program or date, please submit a written request to us at least three business days before the event, meeting, or gathering. You will receive a refund minus a $20.00 cancellation fee. No refunds or registration changes will be issued within three business days of the event, meeting, or gathering.
Stay Informed:
Registered participants will be notified of any schedule changes. For updates regarding inclement weather, please check your email or visit NJSBA.com.
Media Consent:
By participating in our events, meetings, or other gatherings, you agree to be photographed and/or recorded. Additionally, all media content captured during these gatherings will become the property of NJSBA. This content, including your image and name, may be used in our future promotional materials without additional consent or compensation.
Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy:
Read our Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy and submit an Application here: https://njsba.com/njicle/cle-programs/scholarship/