As our 2015-2016 bar year comes to a close, I thank you for supporting the Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities (REM). I hope that you enjoyed the continuing legal education programs sponsored by the Committee. In September 2015, our CLE coordinator, Daniel R. Saeedi, presented The Hiring Process: An Applicant’s Background and the Legal Issues Facing Employers. The program was an in-depth discussion with an EEOC attorney and a private practitioner. In November 2015, we co-sponsored the Symposium on Sexual Assaults on Campus, which took place over a period of two days. REM’s incoming chair, Sharon Eiseman, has prepared a comprehensive summary of the program, which will appear in an upcoming newsletter. Please watch for the article, including its list of resources for students, survivors, researchers and volunteers. In January 2016, Daniel moderated a program on the expungement of criminal records. Our speakers addressed many topics, including how to service clients who need to clear their criminal record. The program, which can be accessed online through ISBA’s website, is titled Getting Adult and Juvenile Criminal Records Expunged – the Legal Process in Illinois. If you missed any of our CLE programs this year, I encourage you to look for our excellent educational presentations at https://www.isba.org/cle/free. A special thank you to Daniel for coordinating and hosting the CLE programs and to Yolaine Dauphin for having the energy and ability to bring many persons together to present well-attended and informative symposiums.

Expect more programming and additional newsletters in the 2016-2017 bar year. REM is committed to serving as a voice to the ISBA, the legal profession and the public on issues impacting racial and ethnic minorities. To that end, we follow and comment on legislation introduced in Springfield. I, along with Sharon and our Immediate Past Chair, Cory White, actively participate in activities of the Diversity Leadership Council. Please contact us if you would like to assist in furthering the Committee’s goals.

Best,

Athena T. Taite, Chair, 2015-16
ISBA Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities
ataite@iardc.org