Past Events

Gender-Based Violence - A Persistent Global Pandemic, November 9, 2021

Jumbo Lawyers Around the World: Practicing Abroad as an American Lawyer, October 26, 2021

I'll Take the Case: Wild & True Law Stories, A Conversation with author Jonathan Plaut, A92, June 23, 2021

Business Development 101 for Attorneys - Plan and Act Now for Clients Tomorrow, May 25, 2021

What Law School Doesn't Teach, April 14, 2021

Law Day on the Hill, Choosing Your Legal Career Path: Healthcare and Biotechnology, March 4, 2021

Racial Disparities in the Legal Profession: Retaining, Advancing and Developing Attorneys of Color, January 13, 2021

On January 13, 2021, Tufts Lawyers Association's Public Interest & Social Justice Committee planned a virtual webinar on Racial Disparities in the Legal Profession: Retaining, Advancing, and Developing Attorneys of Color.  The program with over 230 registrants was hosted by TLA board member, Andre Baynes, and included an amazing slate of speakers including:

• Hon. Eric Washington, A76, Senior Judge District of Columbia Court of Appeals 
• Lisa Radcliffe, J88, Deputy Chief Counsel, US Department of Homeland Security 
• Mitchell Robinson, A07, Baker & Hostetler LLP
• Koro Nuri, A93, International Finance Corporation 

The speakers talked about their varying experiences at Tufts to champion for change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. This included protests -- both on-campus and in the greater Boston community.  They discussed about the importance of sponsors in career development (looking out for sponsors and serving as a sponsor / ally for professional development.  All speakers talked about attorneys of color pursuing sponsors who understand them and work actively to develop their progression.

From a firm/corporate/governmental entity standpoint, the panel emphasized that it was essential for the intentional actions and plans to come from the top of the organization.  Diversity, equity, and inclusion should be a strong consideration at every level of an organization and be part of performance reviews/evaluations.  Accountability and reporting, although often a challenge, produces results.  

A key takeaway and call to action from the seminar was to engage in intentional and purposeful action to recruit, retain, advance, and develop attorneys of color in the legal profession.  That message to create a plan / mission statement was a great way for the TLA to enter into the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend.  

TLA and its Public Interest & Social Justice Committee will take on that challenge to create a plan to see what we can do as an organization to recruit, retain, advance, and develop attorneys of color who are Tufts students/alumni and in the greater legal community.  If you are interested in helping TLA develop this plan, reach out to Andre Baynes, Co-Chair Public Interest & Social Justice Committee and/or Tom Dunn, TLA President.  

If you were unable to attend the program on January 13th, don't worry -- it was recorded.  We will share the recording within the next few weeks.  Below are two screenshots from the program.  Thank you to our excellent host and speakers.  We are motivated to continue in TLA's programs, education, and conversations to confront and eliminate #racialdisparities.  

Navigating Change - The "New Normal" and Your Legal Career, November 9, 2020

Racial Disparities: Psychology & Law, September 9, 2020

Panelists

Hon. Timothy K. Lewis, A76, is relentless advocate for equal justice, Tim is a director of the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy (ACS); a board member of the Constitution Project, where he is co-chair of the National Committee on the Right to Counsel; and a Commissioner on Pennsylvania’s Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness. He co-chairs the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution’s National Diversity Task Force, and is a cofounder of the Higginbotham Fellows Program at the American Arbitration Association. He speaks throughout the country on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. Tim frequently writes and speaks about threats to judicial independence and the need for a civil discourse among the three branches of government. 

Tim is currently counsel at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, where he focuses on domestic and international complex commercial litigation as an arbitrator, mediator, settlement counselor and appellate advisor. He is co-chair of the firm’s ADR Practice Group and a past co-chair of its Appellate Practice Group. Before entering private practice, Tim served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. At the time of both appointments, he was the youngest federal judge in the United States. 

Samuel R. Sommers, Ph.D., is an experimental social psychologist interested in issues related to stereotyping, prejudice, and group diversity. His research focuses on two general (and often overlapping) topics: 1) race and social perception, judgment, and interaction; 2) the intersection of psychology and law. In other words, he is interested in how race impacts the way people see and interact with the world in a wide range of social settings. In recognition of this work, in 2008 he received the Saleem Shah Award for Early Career Excellence from the American Psychology-Law Society. For more details regarding publications, ongoing projects, and media coverage of his research, see the Racial Equity & Diversity Lab website. At Tufts, Professor Sommers teaches courses in Introduction to Psychology, Social Psychology, Experimental Psychology, and upper-level seminars in social psychology and psychology and law. In 2007 he won the Lerman-Neubauer Prize for Outstanding Teaching and Advising at Tufts; in 2009 he was named Gerald R. Gill Professor of the Year by the Student Senate. He has written two general audience books: Situations Matter and This is Your Brain on Sports. He is also a co-author of textbooks for Introductory Psychology and Social Psychology. Professor Sommers received his B.A. from Williams College and his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and has been at Tufts since 2003.

Tufts Lawyers Speed Networking Happy Hour, July 23, 2020

You've heard of speed dating? Well, join Tufts Lawyers Association (TLA) for speed networking! We're holding a virtual happy hour on Thursday, July 23rd between 5:00 and 6:00 pm EST. Sit down with a cup of coffee, glass of wine, or favorite cocktail and prepare to meet and network with other Tufts lawyers--for ten minutes at a time. 

We will handle the Zoom rooms, you sit back and relax. Whether you are looking for new opportunities, want to share your experiences with your current position, or just want to meet some new faces, we hope that you'll join us. Rooms will be randomly assigned. 

Join the Bar: An Evening with Tufts Lawyers, June 4, 2020

If you are interested in law school or learning about different areas of the law, Tufts Lawyers Association (TLA) is hosting a virtual meet the lawyers event on Thursday, June 4, 2020 from 7 pm - 8:30 pm.

The event will provide Tufts undergrads and alums an opportunity to hear from seasoned lawyers in multiple legal industries. The event will open with an introductory discussion and then we will break into virtual breakout rooms where attendees can hear from lawyers about general law school questions, and from practitioners in specific areas about their practices.

The event will feature multiple panels including:
• Pre-Law Bootcamp to answer questions about attending law school
• Public Service and Government attorneys
• Employment attorneys
• Immigration attorneys
• Corporate attorneys
• In-house counsel
• Business litigators
• Criminal defense attorneys
• Patent and Intellectual Property attorneys

Law Day on the Hill, February 27, 2020

Now in its 18th year, the Tufts Lawyers Association invites alumni to the annual Law Day on the Hill, a partnership with Tufts Career Center, taking place on Thursday, February 27.

The evening begins with a light dinner and panel discussion focusing on current issues in constitutional law and election law. The evening wraps up with plenty of time for students and alumni to speak one-on-one in more detail about their careers, law school, and other applicable topics.

Law Day is an opportunity for alumni to share career journeys and experiences with students, including but not limited to the process of applying to law school and insight into being a law student. Students have shared that the connections they form at this program are helpful while navigating their undergraduate years.

Panelists include:
Kevin Lownds, A09, Managing Attorney, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Patrick Roath, A09, Deputy Policy Director, Deval for All
Matthew Shapanka, A09, Associate, Covington & Burling LLP
Stephen Wermiel, A72, Professor of Practice of Law, American University, Washington College of Law