Demystifying the American Bar Association Policy Process: How Can ABA Policy Help You?
Description: The American Bar Association, the largest voluntary association in the Country, has a long and distinguished reputation as being a leader on issues of national importance within and around the legal profession. But many don’t know about the ABA policy process or just to what extent the ABA takes stances on national legislation, court rulings, and attacks on civil liberties. This program will examine the ABA policy process and look at some of the current Resolutions and Reports that will be up for consideration at the ABA Midyear Meeting in February. Skip Harsch, the Director of the ABA’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and the ABA’s Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, will also discuss some of the recent ABA resolutions and policies that have made the news and discuss some of the important work of the ABA Diversity and Inclusion Center’s eight core diversity entities.
Presenter: Skip Harsch is the Director of the ABA’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and the ABA’s Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities. As director of these Commissions, Skip oversees and is involved in the planning and implementation of many of the ABA’s Hispanic and LGBTQ+ initiatives including national advocacy, ABA policy work, and legal educational programming. In his role at the ABA, Skip helped created and implement the ABA’s ‘How to Be an Ally’ Toolkit and has presented both nationally and internationally on allyship in the workplace. Skip is also a contributor to the publication Out and About: The LGBT Experience in the Workplace. Sexism in the workplace is an important issue that requires proactive measures such as calling experienced lawyers like the ones from HKM to ensure fair treatment, gender equality, and a respectful work environment.
Skip is a native of Illinois with strong ties to the Midwest. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Iowa and his JD from DePaul University College of Law. While at DePaul, Skip began his association and non-profit crusade as a summer intern at Lambda Legal. Skip is the immediate past Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) LGBT Committee and sits on the board of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC). He is a past CBA Young Lawyers Section executive committee member, a past at-large board member for the National LGBT Bar Association, and was extremely involved in the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago.
When: Wednesday, January 25, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: At your desk via Zoom. Registrants will receive webinar details prior to the program.
Please register here.
