18 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2024 By Hala Gores OTLA Guardian By Nathan Sosa OTLA Guardian As the inaugural co-chairs of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, we embarked on a transformative journey, fostering a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion within the legal landscape of Oregon. Our tenure on the DEI Committee has been marked by several significant initiatives, each designed to embed DEI deeply into the organization’s core and extend its principles to our members’ practices. Genesis of the DEI program As civil plaintiffs’ lawyers we are conHala Gores Nathan Sosa stantly in pursuit of justice for our clients and holding wrongdoers accountable. That philosophy is deeply intertwined with the principles of diversity and equity. The inception of the DEI program was a direct response to the growing recognition of the need for a more inclusive and equitable legal community. OTLA established a dedicated DEI Task Force, composed of diverse OTLA members and an external DEI consultant to integrate DEI into OTLA’s structure and reflect these values in our members’ law firms. The first goal initiated by the committee was a set of 16 objectives We successfully integrated a new Mission Statement and Vision Statement, reflecting our commitment to DEI, and revised policies and job descriptions across the board to emphasize DEI skills and considerations. We launched a media campaign to promote these new statements and made our strategic DEI plan easily accessible on our website. A comprehensive glossary of DEI terms was created and included in our handbook and website resources tab. Significantly, we transitioned the DEI Task Force into a permanent committee, ensuring its ongoing visibility and impact. This included updating the committee’s mission statement to align with our long-term objectives. We also initiated discussions on creating mentorship opportunities for underrepresented members, and we are exploring new approaches to ensure greater equity and inclusivity within OTLA. Additionally, we have focused on training our leadership and membership in DEI topics, covering areas such as power, privilege, microaggressions, disability, neurodivergence and pronouns/ gender. These efforts, both completed and ongoing, demonstrate our dedication to building a more inclusive and diverse legal community. Refining mission and vision A pivotal moment in our leadership was the revision of OTLA’s mission and vision statements to align with our DEI goals. The updated mission statement, “Dedicated to protecting people, holding wrongdoers accountable, and promoting a fair and equitable justice system A Transformative Journey OTLA & DEI
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