Session 2: Diversity Perspectives: In-House Counsel

This expert panel addressed diversity perspectives in the legal field. Moderated by Debbie Akhbari, six panelists shared their stories. The panelists were Leticia Hernández, Bernadette Lopez, Elida Moran, Catherine Romero, Rachel Seals, and Katina Thornock. Each panelist\u27s stories have been broken into its own section in the summary of proceedings. Many diverse candidates have incorrect assumptions made about them, resulting in doors being closed by those in positions of power. This panel shared their personal stories and encouraged students and newer attorneys to keep “knocking on those doors” and for those in positions of power to open those doors. Through their personal stories, this panel demonstrated that diverse women can overcome challenges and be incredibly successful. This panel discussed how diverse candidates often suffer from a lack of exposure to the legal field and how the idea of mentorship and sponsorship can bridge that gap