2021 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference

Thank you to our phenomenal honorees, speakers, members, sponsors, partners, and Pathways Advisory Council for contributing to the success of MCCA’s 2021 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference!

Congratulations again to our 2021 Paula L. Ettelbrick Award Honoree: Susan Baker Manning, Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; our 2021 George B. Vashon Innovator Honoree: Hanson Bridgett, and our 2021 Rainmakers and Rising Stars! To view the Rainmakers and Rising Stars Sponsored Spotlight Videos, click here.

We hope that all who attended will be able to incorporate what they have learned at Pathways into their own companies and law firms. Pathways fostered discussions on advancing your career, leading through crisis, building community, D&I data, DEI strategy from top companies, systemic racism in corporate America, how leaders can drive systemic change, and much more!

The conference has ended, but the work has not. Continue to speak up, take action, and demand change in the legal profession so that we can activate change together! From all of us at MCCA, again, thank you so much for your commitment, engagement, passion, and support.

Together we are #InspiringProgess and #AcceleratingImpact.

Please add events@mcca.com to your Address Book or Contacts to receive future communications
regarding the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.

OCTOBER 11-12, 2021
Virtual Conference

2021 Pathways Highlights/CLEs

CLE Accreditation

SPONSORED BY:

COURSE MATERIALS

2021 Rainmakers

2021 Rising Stars

2021 Paula L. Ettelbrick Honoree

Evan Wolfson

The 2021 Paula L. Ettelbrick Award was presented to Susan Baker Manning, Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP at the MCCA Creating Pathways to Diversity Virtual Conference on October 12, 2021.

Evan Wolfson

The 2021 Paula L. Ettelbrick Award was presented to Susan Baker Manning, Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP at the MCCA Creating Pathways to Diversity Virtual Conference on October 12, 2021.

2021 George B. Vashon Innovator Honoree

Event Sponsors

CHAMPION SPONSOR
Amazon

Pathways Advisory Council

Justification Toolkit

You recognize the value of attending the Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference, but how do you convey that message to your manager? With budgetary constraints and increased scrutiny on business travel, gaining approval to attend conferences can sometimes pose a challenge. It is important to demonstrate the benefits of attending in order to justify the expense. Use MCCA’s Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference Justification Toolkit to help you make the ask, prepare for the Pathways Conference, and get the most from our conference and your membership.

EVENT AGENDA

MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2021

*Please note the agenda times are in EDT.

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION DESK
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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

SPONSOR EXHIBITOR HALL
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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

AMAZON INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW BLITZ

Amazon has once again partnered with MCCA to host its “Amazon Blitz” and meet with individuals interested in exploring opportunities with Amazon Legal.

*Applicants must register and attend the Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference in order to be considered.

The Amazon Informational Interview Blitz Submittal Form is closed.

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

PITCH SESSION NETWORK

Sponsored by:
Amazon
2021 Pathways Champion Sponsor

MCCA’s Pitch Session Network (“PSN”) allows in-house counsel to connect with diverse law firm partners at majority law firms, diversify their preferred provider portfolios and hold law firms accountable for their diversity efforts. Member law firms and sponsors will have the ability to meet privately with in-house counsel to pitch the legal services they offer and develop meaningful connections with potential clients. MCCA created the Pitch Session Network to address the lack of diversity at the equity partner-level in law firms and is in collaboration with:

To learn more about the Pitch Session Network, click here.

The application period for PSN is now closed.

2021 PSN CORPORATE PARTICIPANTS

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10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

HIRING WITH INTENTION: INTERRUPTING BIAS IN HIRING AND RECRUITING – LAW FIRM MEMBERS ONLY

The MCCA Advisory Practice (MAP) workshops are grounded in 24 years of MCCA’s extensive legal industry research and expertise on law firm and legal department diversity. MAP workshops empower MCCA members with the critical knowledge and skills they need to build more inclusive organizations, manage diverse groups, and serve diverse clients.

In this workshop, learners will examine their own assumptions and bias, understand behaviors, and practice skills through engaging activities, insightful case studies, and practical self-assessment. Participants will hone and practice the strong change management skills they need to successfully create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and will leave this workshop with a hiring and recruiting action plan they can implement at their firms. This workshop is open to law firm members only and has max capacity of 25 participants. Registrants will be placed on a waiting list once we reach max capacity. Additional information and workshop materials will be provided to participants prior to the conference.

Host: Kali Patrice – Chief Learning & Engagement Officer, MCCA

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11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

MCCA’S BLUEPRINT WORKSHOP FOR SELLING & BUYING – A PITCH WORKSHOP FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL

Through instruction and experiential learning, participants will work together to learn skills and behaviors for building successful business relationships. Outside counsel will have the opportunity to work in small teams to develop a formal pitch from a mock RFP for legal services, which will be presented to senior in-house counsel coaches.

This workshop is open to law firm members only and has max capacity of 20 participants. Preference will be given to law firm partners; associates are welcome to apply if their firm is a two tier partner system. In-house members who would like to serve as workshop coaches, assisting law firm participants with their pitches and sharing best practices, are invited to email Sophia Piliouras at spiliouras@mcca.com.

Non-members will be placed on a waiting list as will any other participants once we reach max capacity. Additional information and workshop materials will be provided to participants prior to the conference. If you would like to be added to the workshop waitlist, please email Lauren Hossfeld at lhossfeld@mcca.com.

Workshop Coaches:

  • Jackie Davis – Vice President & Deputy General Counsel – Commercial Legal Group, VMware, Inc.
  • Patrick Dukes – Associate Vice President Casualty Claims Legal, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
  • Anand Sharma – Managing Partner, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
  • Michael Sieja – Assistant General Counsel, Altria Client Services Inc.
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1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

HIRING WITH INTENTION: INTERRUPTING BIAS IN HIRING AND RECRUITING – CORPORATE MEMBERS ONLY

The MCCA Advisory Practice (MAP) workshops are grounded in 24 years of MCCA’s extensive legal industry research and expertise on law firm and legal department diversity, equity and inclusion strategies. MAP workshops empower MCCA members with the critical knowledge and skills they need to build more inclusive organizations, manage diverse groups, and serve diverse clients.

In this workshop, learners will examine their own assumptions and bias, understand behaviors, and practice skills through engaging activities, insightful case studies, and practical self-assessment. Participants will hone and practice the strong change management skills they need to successfully create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and will leave this workshop with a hiring and recruiting action plan they can implement at their organizations. This workshop is open to corporate legal department members only and has max capacity of 25 participants. Registrants will be placed on a waiting list once we reach max capacity. Additional information and workshop materials will be provided to participants prior to the conference.

Host: Kali Patrice – Chief Learning & Engagement Officer, MCCA

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5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PATH TO THE BOARDROOM

Think only retired CEOs or investors sit on corporate boards?

Think again! You could have what it takes for the boardroom. Public and private companies seek diverse leaders for their boards of directors because a wide range of perspectives and competences is essential to good corporate governance. As our professional roles shape our knowledge and leadership abilities, so do our ages, races, ethnicities, gender identities, philosophies, and life experiences. Companies determined to thrive in a global, dynamic economy need advisors who understand a challenging, complex world.

In this panel we will:

  • Talk about different types of boards – non-profit, for-profit, public, private and startup
  • Demystify corporate board service and differences between public, and private and startup boards?
  • How different boards recruit and function, and what this could mean for you.
  • How to package your skills and experience to position yourself for a corporate board seat.
  • Learn how Bolster and other organizations helps dispel misconceptions and create more opportunities and advocacy for first time directors.
  • Share actionable steps to package your skills and experience to position yourself for, and find, a corporate role.

Moderator:
Jenny Lawton – Executive Vice President, Bolster

Panelists:

  • Doneene Keemer Damon – Firm President, Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
  • Pedro DeJesus – Head of International Business and EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Tampico Beverages, Inc.
  • Julian Ha – Partner, Heidrick & Struggles
  • Judith Reinsdorf – Corporate Director
  • AnaLisa Valle – Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Sphero, Inc.
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6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

AMAZON NETWORKING RECEPTION

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2021

*Please note the agenda times are in EDT.

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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION DESK
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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

SPONSOR EXHIBITOR HALL
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9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

PITCH SESSION NETWORK

Sponsored by:
Amazon
2021 Pathways Champion Sponsor

MCCA’s Pitch Session Network (“PSN”) allows in-house counsel to connect with diverse law firm partners at majority law firms, diversify their preferred provider portfolios and hold law firms accountable for their diversity efforts. Member law firms and sponsors will have the ability to meet privately with in-house counsel to pitch the legal services they offer and develop meaningful connections with potential clients. MCCA created the Pitch Session Network to address the lack of diversity at the equity partner-level in law firms and is in collaboration with:

To learn more about the Pitch Session Network, click here.

The application period for PSN is now closed.

2021 PSN CORPORATE PARTICIPANTS

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10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS (PRESIDENT AND BOARD CHAIR)
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10:45 am – 12:15 pm

COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP: LEADING THROUGH A RACIAL CRISIS

Presentation of the Paula L. Ettelbrick Award and the 2021 Rising Stars Award Ceremony

This panel of courageous legal leaders will share how they have led their teams and organizations through the past tumultuous year and taken a deeper look at their workplace culture. How will we, our teams, our organizations, our society connect, persevere, and progress? How will we create systemic change to promote long-term reform and racial justice? How will we emerge from this experience collectively stronger as a community and country and halt the widening divide?

The panel will discuss how legal organizations and their leaders are activating change and what it means to be an inclusive leader in a time of uncertainty.

Moderator:
Jennifer Ivan – Associate General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation

Panelists:

  • Elisa Garcia – Chief Legal Officer, Macy’s Inc.
  • Duane Holloway – Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer, U.S. Steel Corporation
  • Anne Robinson – Managing Director & General Counsel, The Vanguard Group, Inc.
  • Alexander (“Sandy”) Thomas – Global Managing Partner, Reed Smith LLP
  • Amy Tu – Chief Legal Officer & Secretary, Global Governance and Corporate Affairs, Tyson Foods, Inc.
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12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

COMMUNITIES OF COLOR: BUILDING COALITIONS, VISIBILITY, AND VOICE

Despite significant progress, structural inequities based on gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation persist and are compounded and complicated by today’s challenges presented by the global pandemic.

However, today’s realities have helped fuel vibrant new coalition building movements engaging in advocacy and forging powerful alliances. This panel will discuss the efforts underway to reframe narratives and recognize that race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation identities are deeply connected and to ensure our efforts to activate change are rooted in this understanding. United coalitions that provide visibility and voice will shift repressive power dynamics, encourage partnership among the marginalized communities and strengthen the rights of those most affected by violence, inequality and injustice in this country.

Moderator:
Albert Giang – Partner, King & Spalding LLP

Panelists:

  • Lisa Helem – Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives, Bloomberg Industry Group
  • Willie Hernandez – Head of Legal, Messenger, Facebook, Inc.
  • Jean Lee – President & CEO, MCCA
  • Rick Wade – Senior Vice President, Department of Strategic Alliances and Outreach, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Peter Wilson, Jr. – Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Proskauer Rose LLP
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12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

DEMANDS FOR DIVERSITY, GOOD INTENTIONS AND THE REALITY GAP: MCCA’S ANNUAL GENERAL COUNSEL SURVEY

Since 1999, MCCA began tracking information about Fortune 500 general counsel and more broadly Fortune 1000 since 2004. The year 2020 was marked by substantial change. It showed the pliability of our nation as we battled a raging pandemic, the courage of many to stand-up in the face of systemic racism, and the success of women and racial and ethnic underrepresented populations on the national stage. Despite the highs and lows of 2020, we saw substantially less movement within the Fortune 1000 general counsels and in some areas a net loss in representation.

There is still a long way to go before Fortune 1000 GCs are representative of the US population. The rate of change will increase only if female and minority GCs are promoted more often at the highest levels. This means that representation must also increase within the active attorney population. As previous survey editions have shown, once a female or minority candidate is awarded a GC position, the pool from which their successor is drawn becomes more diverse as well.

The panel will discuss the 2021 MCCA report, the key factors to sustaining focus and creating models to carry this focus forward and strategies on how to increase representation at the top in the legal profession.

Moderator:
Peter Muñiz – Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, The Home Depot, Inc.

Panelists:

  • John Gilmore – Managing Partner, BarkerGilmore LLC
  • Jennifer Herrmann – Consultant, Spencer Stuart
  • Jay Kim – Partner, Major, Lindsey & Africa
  • Sonya Olds Som – Partner, Heidrick & Struggles
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1:15 pm – 2:00 pm

NETWORKING BREAK
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2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

DEI STRATEGY INSIGHTS: HOW TOP COMPANIES EMBED DEI INTO THEIR WORKPLACES

While the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) isn’t new, 2020 was a wake-up call for companies to reexamine their DEI strategies. Advancing workplace diversity is more important today than ever before. Employees are looking to leadership to make a difference. Organizations must evolve or risk a shrinking candidate pool, reduced market share, and ultimately, lost profitability.

This panel will discuss their DEI strategies, and how they have embedded DEI in their business systems, and structured their systems with metrics and accountability to implement real change internally.

Moderator:
Nimesh Patel – Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Panelists:

  • Iris Chen – Deputy General Counsel, Airbnb, Inc.
  • Jennifer Lagunas – Vice President, Corporate Legal, Governance, Operations & Assistant Corporate Secretary, AbbVie
  • Lanesha Minnix – Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Flowserve Corporation
  • Amy Fliegelman Olli – Executive Vice President & General Counsel, VMware, Inc.
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2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

COMING OUT IN A STRAIGHT-LACED PROFESSION: CULTURAL CHALLENGES LGBTQ+ ATTORNEYS CONTINUE TO FACE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

LGBTQ+ attorneys from Big Law and across the legal profession have spoken about the tremendous progress that has been made towards inclusion in the last several decades. They have also spoken about the many barriers that still remain. Transgender and nonbinary attorneys in the legal industry face especially high risk of experiencing bias at work and fear that coming out could damage their careers. And LGBTQ+ attorneys of color say they experience additional marginalization and discrimination at work because of their race.

This panel will discuss the cultural change in the legal profession and barriers that still remain in the workplace for some LGBTQ+ lawyers.

Moderator:
Lisa Damon – Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Panelists:

  • Jorge Martinez – Assistant General Counsel, Intuit Inc.
  • Michael Moore – Associate General Counsel, Amazon.com, Inc.
  • Paul Twarog – Director, Legal, Google LLC
  • Keith Wetmore – Managing Director, Major, Lindsey & Africa
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3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

HEARING AND SEEING ISN’T ENOUGH: PERFORMATIVE ALLYSHIP VS. REAL ADVOCACY

In the past year many people finally woke up to the vast inequities that people of color have lived with for generations. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are a must-have, not a nice-to-have, for every organization and employee, and so true allyship has become essential. Unfortunately, it’s slowly becoming clear now that many of the pledges for reform last year were just performative allyship.

Performative allyship is performing a broad gesture that is symbolic in nature, but does nothing to actually improve the status of marginalized people. An example of this would be companies and brands changing their Twitter and Instagram avatars to Black squares “in solidarity” during the social justice protests for #BlackoutTuesday, or changing those same avatars to rainbow squares during Pride Month. While this is nice in theory, it is optical/performative allyship. This panel will discuss what it means to be a true advocate and move from words to action in addressing systemic racism and inequities in our workplace and communities.

Moderator:
Amandeep Sidhu – Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

Panelists:

  • Jonathan Harmon – Chairman, McGuireWoods LLP
  • Nancy Laben – Chief Legal Officer, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Michele Coleman Mayes – Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, The New York Public Library
  • Larry Midler – Executive Vice President, General Counsel, CBRE
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3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL: BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS AND HALTING THE MASS EXODUS OF WOMEN FROM LAW

The American Bar Association 2021 study, “Practicing Law in the Pandemic and Moving Forward”, found that the pandemic has intensified the disproportionate burdens and pressures that women lawyers, particularly those with young children, and lawyers of color were already facing prior to the pandemic.

That study also found a significant gap in how effective managing partners and senior partners rated their firms’ efforts to promote and retain senior women attorneys, compared to the views of experienced women attorneys themselves. Firms and legal departments underestimate the impediments women face to be successful in law and they overestimate the initiatives they’ve created to try to assist.

If leaders do not wake up to this approaching reality, legal employers risk losing a sizable cohort of talented women lawyers and losing all the ground we have gained as a profession the last ten plus years.

This panel will discuss work culture, rethinking policies and practices and strategies on how to retain talented women in the legal profession.

Moderator:
Mike Jackson – Assistant General Counsel/Senior Director-Compliance & Ethics & D&I Lead, Microsoft Corporation

Panelists:

  • Deneen Donnley – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
  • Tamaron Houston – Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  • Jill Louis – Dallas Office Managing Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
  • Caroline Tsai – Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Western Union
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4:00 PM – 4:15 PM

BREAK
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4:15 PM – 5:45 PM

MAINTAINING AN INCLUSIVE WORK CULTURE IN TIMES OF TRANSITION

Presentation of the George B. Vashon Innovator Award and the 2021 Rainmaker Award Ceremony

In 2020 the world changed dramatically. When crisis hits, culture is put to the test. And as a result, protecting your culture becomes a priority. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial for leaders to focus on what culture is, why it matters and the improvements that will propel organizations toward an intentional culture that matches their core values and objectives.

This panel of legal leaders will discuss how they have navigated 2021 and what they have done to maintain a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Questions that will be addressed: What defines their workplace culture and how have they maintained their culture? What workplace transformations and strategies have they implemented? What challenges have they encountered and how have they navigated those challenges during this time of uncertainty and division?

Moderator:
Carlos Vasquez – Senior Vice President, Chief Counsel Latin America and Caribbean, Visa Inc.

Panelists:

  • Hannah Lim-Johnson – Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Meritor, Inc.
  • Kelly Mahon Tullier – Vice Chair, Chief People and Administrative Officer, Visa Inc.
  • Wanji Walcott – Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Discover Financial Services
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5:45 PM – 6:00 PM

BREAK
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6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

VIRTUAL NETWORKING RECEPTION

EVENT SPEAKERS

Registration & Fees

Registration Date:
Regular (before October 4)
Late Registration (October 5 - 12)
MEMBERS
IN-HOUSE
$425
$500
MEMBERS
LAW FIRMS
$500
$650
NON-MEMBERS
GOVERNMENT / NON-PROFIT
$425
$500
NON-MEMBERS
IN-HOUSE
$550
$600
NON-MEMBERS
LAW FIRMS
$1,000
$1,200
NON-MEMBERS
VENDORS
$1,000
$1,200

PAYMENT MESSAGE

All payments must be received no later than October 8, 2021, 9:00 PM EDT.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted. Checks are accepted, although card payment is preferred. To ensure your payment is received and processed prior to the event payment deadline, you are strongly encouraged to pay by card.

MCCA Law Firm Members and Corporate Members: Please note as part of your company’s/firm membership benefits you may be entitled to complimentary registration(s) or a discounted member rate.

For complimentary registrations, members must obtain their complimentary registration codes from their organization and use them during registration. The complimentary codes should be entered in the discount code field at the Payment Page and members must click “Apply Now” to zero their balance.

For member discount rates to apply, members must select their “Company/Firm” from a drop down labeled “MCCA Law Firm/Corporate Members” during the registration process. The member discount rate will automatically be applied at the Payment page.

For any questions or inquiries regarding registration or membership confirmation, please contact events@mcca.com.

If paying by check, please make checks payable to the “Minority Corporate Counsel Association” and mail them to the following address: 1111 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004

CANCELLATIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS

All cancellations MUST be received in writing.

Cancellations received no later than 72 hours prior to the first date of an MCCA conference may, at MCCA’s discretion made on a case-by-case basis, apply a credit in the amount paid for the 2021 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference towards attendance to MCCA’s 2022 Creating Pathways to Diversity® Conference.

There will be NO refunds or credits for cancellations received less than 72 hours prior to the first date of the MCCA conference.

Any approved credits will be processed after the MCCA conference.

An organization may substitute one paid participant for another participant from the same organization.

Cancellations and requests for substitutions must be submitted to events@mcca.com.

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP POLICY

To apply for the financial hardship scholarship, please click here to complete the application.

This financial hardship policy applies to attorneys from MCCA member organizations, non-member organizations, or attorneys in public service. Attorneys who are unable to afford event registration fees due to financial hardship may petition for registration fee waivers or discounted registration fees. Full scholarships and discounts to attend MCCA’s conference are given priority to pro bono attorneys, judges, law professors, lawyers who work for nonprofit organizations, legal services organizations or government agencies, and unemployed attorneys with financial hardships. MCCA may waive or reduce the registration fee for MCCA conference at their discretion.

Additional Information:

MCCA will review applications on a rolling basis. The deadline for the 2021 Virtual Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference financial hardship applications is September 3, 2021.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Full scholarship or reduced registration fees will not be granted retroactively.

Full scholarship or reduced registration fees are non-transferable from event to event or person to person.

MCCA will not review applications that are not submitted via the official application form.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Any special needs for facilities, visual aids or dietary requirements must be sent to events@mcca.com.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Click here to review the MCCA Conference Registration General Terms and Conditions.

Previous Creating Pathways to
Diversity® Conferences

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