Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Announces Record-Setting Class of Pathfinders and First-Ever Virtual Meeting
LCLD is excited to deliver a virtual meeting to its largest class of Pathfinders yet, which will include plenty of speed-networking opportunities.
RICHMOND, Va., April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) announced this week that 258 diverse attorneys from 164 LCLD Member law firms and corporations have been selected for the 2020 Pathfinder Program.
This program, which has served more than 680 lawyers since its inception in 2015, trains early-career attorneys, identified as future leaders by their organizations, in critical career-development strategies including leadership and the building of professional networks.
"The Pathfinder Program was designed to accommodate high-achieving, early-career lawyers from both in-house legal departments and law firms," said Robert J. Grey Jr., LCLD President. The program does this, he said, by providing next-level leadership training and professional development skills that both groups need, while also focusing on the distinct requirements of the two groups.
This week, the 2020 Pathfinders will attend a virtual 2020 Pathfinder First Meeting, which will be held for several hours over the course of two days. Then in November, the Pathfinders will come together for their Second Meeting to conclude the program. The dates and location of the second meeting are to be determined.
Understanding that relationship building is a key element of the Pathfinder Program, the Pathfinders met each other virtually last week in their assigned Peer Circle groupings of 6-8 participants. Building on this foundation, the Pathfinder virtual meeting this week will provide various breakout sessions for Peer Circle groups, as well as one-on-one speed networking with the greater 2020 Pathfinder class. While the virtual meeting format was designed for the current COVID-19 pandemic, LCLD is excited to host its first-ever virtual conference.
"Ensuring that the LCLD community remains connected and engaged in the current landscape is essential," said Grey. "We're truly embracing this new virtual meeting format for the Pathfinders, and there will be opportunities to apply what we learn to other LCLD programs and membership initiatives."
Between the spring and fall meetings, Pathfinders will have a number of opportunities to further develop their leadership and networking skills. New virtual content will be provided to the Pathfinders this summer, offering even more opportunities to build relationships within the class.
Pathfinders will also work with a Program Facilitator to identify new leadership opportunities, stretch assignments, and career-advancing opportunities within their organizations. Additionally, Pathfinders will work with their Peer Circles to complete career development e-learning modules, and will interact with LCLD program alumni through small group conversations over lunch.
As part of the greater LCLD community, Pathfinders will also have a variety of opportunities to network with alumni from all LCLD programs at regional events led by experts on leadership and career development, as well as from various executives at hosting corporations.
"All of that comes together for our Member organizations, both corporations and law firms, to help these attorneys progress and excel within their organizations and ultimately become leaders within the profession," Grey said.
"The legal profession will be stronger with more successful diverse attorneys," said Ellen Dwyer, Chair of the Executive Committee at Crowell & Moring LLP and Chair of LCLD. "The LCLD Pathfinder Program helps by inspiring and nurturing the next generation of diverse talent, and we are committed to helping to scale its impact on both the participants and our profession."
For more information on LCLD, please contact Jessica Sabesan at [email protected] or visit http://www.lcldnet.org.
SOURCE Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
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