CBA Sept.-Oct. 2020
CBA Forms Covid-19 Recovery Committee to Support Members and the Legal Community By Sally Daly, CBA Public Affairs Director A s it has done to every other segment of American society, the Covid-19 pandemic has practices,” said Weathersby. “CBA mem- bers will not want to miss these scheduled events.” such, the programming will be a hybrid of CLE credit virtual classes and member enrichment.
unleashed significant effects on the legal profession. With no clear end to this global crisis, the Chicago Bar Association has created a committee to lead members through the challenges by providing specialized programming and resources. The CBA’s Board of Managers approved the new Covid-19 Recovery Committee in June 2020. Co-Chairs Nina Fain and Greta Weathersby noted that the commit- tee will develop the CBA’s response to the pandemic by working to educate members on the implications of the virus for their work lives and its impact on the broader Illinois legal community. “This committee evolved from discus- sions with CBAmembers and other leaders from different legal workplace environ- ments and practice areas,” explained Fain. “We decided that our mission is to focus on harmonizing the Chicago Bar Association’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting members through education, new technologies, and other specialized initiatives.” With so many lawyers continuing to work remotely, the committee will also focus on developing programs and ini- tiatives for members that can help them improve or enrich their use of technology and introduce new methodologies for resolving legal matters. There will also be a special focus on emerging challenges to health and wellness as well as programming that deepens awareness about social justice and cultural competence. “Beyond addressing technology depen- dency, the committee’s year-long program- ming will also address the intersection between the ongoing pandemic and related national events, along with the economic and cultural effects on attorneys in their
Other members of the new committee include Illinois Appellate Justice Michael B. Hyman; CBATreasurer John Sciaccotta, Partner at Aronberg Goldgehn LLP; Lauren Novak, Partner at Schiff Hardin, LLP; Katie Liss, Director of the Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center at DePaul College of Law; Young Lawyer Section member Sydney Weathersby, of Johnson and Bell; and Alexis Douglas, Partner at KL Gates LLP. The Committee also will work to engage CBA members through standing com- mittees and YLS members who practice in corporate law departments; major law firm corporate and litigation departments; state, local and federal governments; and solo practice lawyers and specialty firms. The year’s program series will also offer unique programming for women, persons of color, and the LGBTQ community. As
The committee rolled out its first ini- tiative September 16 through the Third Annual Implicit Bias Program Series, which explored the ramifications on new case law in the workplace and the lawyers who represent employers of Latinx work- ers. The program was co-sponsored by the Chicago Latino Legal Institute. Other programming being planned through the year will focus on gender bias in the workplace, the dos and don’ts of virtual litigation, virtual arbitrations, social justice, and technology.
CBA RECORD 11
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