The Bar Association of Erie County, University at Buffalo School of Law, and the Minority Bar Association of WNY have teamed up to launch Buffalo’s first legal diversity career fair. The mission of the job fair is to help build a more diverse legal workforce in Western New York region. The career fair will be held at the University at Buffalo Center for Tomorrow on Friday, August 12, 2022 from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
This career fair is for law students, JDs, and licensed attorneys. It is open to all applicants, with the goal of increasing representation of people from diverse racial, religious, ability, gender, and sexual orientation backgrounds. Featuring over 30 different employers, consisting of law firms, non-profit organizations, government organizations, and corporations, candidates will have ample opportunity to meet with a wide variety of local employers. Registration is free for candidates and is open until August 1. Interested job applicants can sign up by visiting the dedicated event page: eriebar.org/diversitycareerfair. Walk-ins will be accepted the day of the event, but we strongly encourage anyone interested to register ahead of time.
This event would not be possible without the generous support of the legal community. Our Champion Sponsors are Harter Secrest & Emery, LLP, Hodgson Russ LLP, and Phillips Lytle LLP. For a full list of our sponsors, visit the dedicated event page: eriebar.org/diversitycareerfair. The fair is chaired by attorney Samantha White, incoming President of the Minority Bar Association of WNY and a member of the BAEC’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Other Career Fair Committee Members are: Hugh M. Russ, III, Larry E. Waters, Lisa Patterson, Hon. Kevin M. Carter, Stephanie J. Calhoun, Jill Bond, Sarah M. Washington, Lauren E. Breen, Karen L. Nicolson, Anne E. Joynt, Richard J. Barnes, Jennifer L. Leonardi, Michelle Parker, Sandra E. Langs, Joe Brown, Anastasia M. McCarthy, Katie M. Ireland, Michael J. Keane, Helen Ferraro-Zaffram, E. Meghan Dwyer, Kristen Elmore-Garcia, Tasha Moore, Danielle N. D’Abate, Andrew Wilson, Glenae Garlock, and Julie Sherwood.
Jill K. Bond, President of the Bar Association of Erie County stated, “The diversity of the legal profession is of utmost importance to the Bar Association of Erie County. The career fair is intended to provide better opportunities for the law students and lawyers of color in our community and we are proud to be a part of this initiative.”
Aviva Abramovsky, UB School of Law Dean and Professor of Law said, “The University at Buffalo School of Law is committed to developing pathways to a more diverse profession. We are proud to partner with the Bar Association of Erie County and the Minority Bar Association of Western New York to expand opportunities and promote a more just and equitable society for all. It is an integral part of our mission and our responsibility as the State of New York’s law school.”
Larry Waters, President of the Minority Bar Association of WNY, added, “The Minority Bar Association of Western New York is proud to participate in the inaugural Empire State Legal Diversity Career Fair. A commitment to diversity must be a priority for all law firms, legal organizations, and governmental agencies. Without action, diversity is only a buzz word. With this Career fair, Western New York is not only showing to the local community, but to the rest of New York state and the country, that Western New York is committed to a more diverse legal field. The Empire State Legal Diversity Career Fair is another step in the right direction to increase diversity, but this must not be the end of our efforts. We must all continue to advocate for a more diverse legal field. The MBAWNY will continue its mission to increase diversity in the legal field.”
The 31 participating employers are as follows: Barclay Damon LLP, Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC, Center for Elder Law & Justice, Connors LLP, Cooke Doyle LLC, Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office, Eighth Judicial District Administrative Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP, Goldberg Segalla, Gross Shuman, P.C., Hamberger & Weiss, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Hodgson Russ LLP, Hurwitz & Fine P.C., Law Offices of Kenneth Hiller, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Lippes Mathias LLP, Mattel/Fisher Price, Milestone, National Fuel Gas Company, Neighborhood Legal Services, New York State Office of the Attorney General, Phillips Lytle LLP, Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham, The Coppola Firm, United States Marine Corps Officer Programs, Volunteer Lawyers Project, Webster Szanyi LLP, Western New York Law Center, and William Mattar, P.C.
ABOUT THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF ERIE COUNTY
The Bar Association of Erie County (“BAEC”), a not-for-profit professional association, was founded in 1887. The BAEC’s goal is to advance the administration of justice through programs and services for the legal profession and the public. The BAEC is a nonpartisan association made up of over three thousand lawyers and judiciary from varied practices and backgrounds, including lawyers in civil and criminal practice, corporate and trial lawyers, defense counsel, in house counsel, and those working in government, educational, and nonprofit settings.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO SCHOOL OF LAW
Since its founding in 1887, the University at Buffalo School of Law — the State of New York’s law school — has been regarded as a leader in legal education. Its cutting-edge curriculum provides both a strong theoretical foundation and the practical tools graduates need to succeed in a competitive marketplace, wherever they choose to practice. A special emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, public service and opportunities for hands-on clinical education makes UB School of Law unique among the nation’s premier public law schools.
ABOUT THE MINORITY BAR ASSOCIATION OF WNY
The Minority Bar Association of WNY is a not-for-profit organization comprised of over one hundred members who are from diverse ethnic backgrounds that represent the varying races, cultures, and beliefs in Western New York. The purpose of the Minority Bar Association of WNY is to facilitate and advance equality and excellence in the legal profession; aid in the progress of minorities in the legal profession, address legal issues affecting minorities, encourage the personal and professional development of lawyers and students, advocate for the civil rights of all people and to enhance the legal services available to minority communities. To this end, our objectives are to improve the integrity and standards of professionalism in the legal community; increase the level of diversity in the Bar, elevate the public’s confidence in the judicial system and the administration of justice, promote and encourage diversity in the judiciary and in the court system, and encourage the promise of equality and fairness for all under law. It is also our goal to convey a better understanding and awareness of the experiences of minorities in the legal profession in order to improve upon and advance the benefits of diversity.
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