As the 2019-2020 bar year comes to an end and we begin planning for 2020-2021, we’ve been reflecting deeply on how we can best serve you as we fight two wars, racism and COVID-19, all while continuing to thrive professionally. Here’s what we’re planning so far.

We’ll continue lifting as we rise. Now more than ever is the time to seek job opportunities and diligently pursue our  professional goals. That is why we will be opening our Members Only Job Opportunities database which will be updated regularly with positions sent directly to us by companies seeking to hire diverse applicants. We’ll also continue to have events that arm us with the tools we need to thrive professionally.

We’ll seek to provide greater mentorship opportunities. Our Membership Committee is actively working to bring back our members-only Mentorship Program, which will help members step outside of their comfort zones, astutely navigate the corporate landscape, and otherwise grow personally and professionally.

We’re kicking up our social justice and civil rights initiatives. ABWA is partnering with the Dominican Bar Association to host a series of police reform webinars, which will update our members on the steps that are being taken to ensure  more just policing practices. Additionally, we’ll increase our focus on civil rights matters through our Judicial and Legislative Committee.

We’ll strive to move the needle on diversity and inclusion efforts across the legal industry. We’ll be inviting experts to discuss ways to have meaningful conversations in our respective companies and organizations. This will further equip us  to play a pivotal role in driving meaningful changes and ensuring that our voices are heard.

Stay tuned! Let’s all get involved. We encourage you to be active with one (or more!) of our committees during the 2020-2021 bar year. And, of course, if you have any suggestions on what ABWA can do to better serve you and our communities at this time, please email us at info@abwanewyork.org.