Seeking current or recent associates of color at insurance defense firms to speak at a Boston Bar Association panel on diversity

 

I am working with attorney Garrett Lee to put together a panel on diversity at insurance defense firms for the Boston Bar Association.  We have partners with hiring responsibility from three major insurance defense firms who will be speaking about what they look for when hiring young associates, and what they look for in retaining and promoting such associates.  How can young attorneys and law students who do not currently have any connections at a firm get their foot in the door?  

We would like to round out the panel with current or recent associates of color who will speak about their experience through the hiring process and working at insurance defense firms.  

Garrett is currently a council member (sort of like the board of directors) of the Boston Bar Association.  Previously he was co-chair of the BBA's insurance and tort litigation section, where I continue to serve as co-chair of the insurance subcommittee. 

The impetus for this program is Garrett’s and my belief that insurance defense work is the best way to learn civil litigation – and our frustration, as we have put together various panels for the BBA in the past few years (such as my upcoming panel on Condominium Insurance Law), on the difficulties in finding speakers of color for such panels.  We hope this program will bring awareness to law students and new attorneys of color who might not otherwise apply to these firms, and also create connections for such candidates interested in working at them.  

If you are a current or recent associate of color at an insurance defense firm and have a potential interest in speaking on the panel about your experiences, please reach out to me at nkallen@kallenlawyer.com.  Or, if you know someone who might be interested, please consider sending them my way.