The Mary Leonard Law Society is excited about its upcoming Salem Diversity Summit on September 9 and several other great events around Salem (and beyond) this month!

1) Salem Diversity Summit, 9/9/15
2) MCBA Val Sloper Memorial Golf Tournament, 9/11/15
3) OAPABA Public Speaking CLE and Workshop, 9/18/15
4) Liberty House Champions for Children Luncheon, 9/22/15
5) Marion-Polk CEJ Luncheon, 9/24/15

1) Salem Diversity Summit, 
September 9, 2015, 1:00-4:45 pm, followed by networking social
Saalfeld Griggs PC, 250 Church St. SE, Salem 
Mary Leonard Law Society and Saalfeld Griggs PC proudly present the Salem Diversity Summit, a 3.25-hour Access to Justice CLE on diversity in the Salem legal community, followed by a networking social generously hosted by Saalfeld Griggs PC. Learn about the advantages of building a diverse team at your workplace; gain practical tips on cross-cultural communication and creating a workplace that incorporates diverse perspectives; and join the discussion on how to attract and retain diverse attorneys in Salem. 
 
    What:  Salem Diversity Summit
     When:  Wednesday, September 9, 2015, from 1:00 to 4:45 pm; networking social to follow
     Where:  Saalfeld Griggs PC, 250 Church St SE, Salem, Oregon 97301


PROGRAM SCHEDULE
     1:00 pm--Welcoming remarks.
     1:15 pm--“The Business Case for Diversity,” Christina Lincicome, Director of Diversity & Inclusion for SAIF Corporation, will discuss advantages of a diverse team in creative problem-solving; benefits of diverse perspectives; and tips for including diverse employees in the company culture and encouraging their contributions.
     2:15 pm--“Communicating Across Cultures,” Lillian A. Tsai, a cross-cultural competency trainer, facilitator, coach, consultant, and founder of TsaiComms, will deliver an interactive presentation to  help you discover your own style and how to relate to and work effectively across cultures.
     3:30 pm--BREAK
     3:45 pm--Mariann Hyland, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Oregon State Bar, will moderate a  discussion with local firm and government leaders on how to attract and retain diverse attorneys to the Salem legal community. Panelists include Shannon Martinez, incoming Managing Partner, Saalfeld Griggs PC, Kim E. Hoyt, Shareholder and Managing Officer, Garrett Hemann Robertson PC; Jill Woods, Senior Recruitment Coordinator, Oregon Department of Justice; and Erious Johnson, Jr., Assistant Attorney General and Civil Rights Director, Oregon Department of Justice. 
    4:45 pm--Networking Social hosted by Saalfeld Griggs PC

REGISTER online at http://www.maryleonardlawsociety.org/september-9-2015-salem-diversity-summit.html or send a check to MLLS at PO Box 773, Salem, OR 97308: 
$45 general admission
$30 for OWLS and other diversity bar members
$20 for judicial clerks and modest income
Free to law students
Free if not seeking CLE credit

2) Marion County Bar Association Val Sloper Memorial Golf Tournament
September 11, 2015, 1:00-6:00 pm
Creekside Golf Club
Supporting the Campaign for Equal Justice. Cost is $85 for MCBA members, $95 for nonmembers. Registration ended on August 28, but late registration may be available. http://www.marioncountybar.org/val-sloper-memorial-golf-tournament-friday-september-11-2015/

3) Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association Public Speaking CLE and Workshop
September 18, 2015, 3:00-5:30 pm 
200 SW Market Street, Portland, Propeller Conference Room, Lobby Level
RSVP to Coni Crone at [email protected]. $25 for OAPABA members; $50 for non-OAPABA members; $10 Lawyers in First 3 Years of Practice/Students.  http://oapaba.org/

4) Liberty House Champions for Children Luncheon
September 22, 2015, 12:00-1:00 pm, seating starts at 11:30 am
Salem Convention Center
Join your friends for this complimentary lunch to learn about our work with children and how you can help Liberty House provide hope and healing. With Master of Ceremonies KGW Anchor Russ Lewis. http://www.libertyhousecenter.org/events.php?spid=3


5) Marion-Polk CEJ Luncheon
September 24, 2015, 12:00-1:00 pm
Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill Street Southeast, Salem, OR 97301
Table captains in the Marion-Polk area will be recruiting guests to sit at their tables, but you are also welcome to call CEJ at (503-295-8442) to RSVP. There is no cost to attend the luncheon. It will be an opportunity to socialize as well as learn more about the important work that legal aid is doing in Marion and Polk Counties and across the state. The Mary Leonard Law Society serves as a table captain each year, so contact us at [email protected] if you'd like to join our table. http://campaignforequaljustice.org/

With so many great events for lawyers coming up, we thought you might appreciate this addendum to the Mary Leonard Law Society September Events Calendar!

1) Marion-Polk CEJ Luncheon, 9/24/15 (Salem)
2) OSB Diversity Section 2015 Fall CLE & Social, 9/24/15 (Portland)
3) Oregon New Lawyers Division Salem Fall Social, 9/30/15 (Salem)
4) OAPABA 2015 Annual Gala Dinner, 10/30/15 (Portland)

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1) Marion-Polk CEJ Luncheon, 9/24/15 (Salem)
September 24, 2015, 12:00-1:00 pm
Willamette Heritage Center, Spinning Room, 1313 Mill Street Southeast, Salem, OR 97301
There are still a few seats left at the MLLS table for the CEJ luncheon! No cost to attend, but contributions to the Campaign for Equal Justice are encouraged. It will be an opportunity to socialize as well as learn more about the important work that legal aid is doing in Marion and Polk Counties and across the state. Contact us at [email protected] if you'd like to join our table. Please also let us know if you have any dietary restrictions so that we can have the right food available at the luncheon. For more information: http://campaignforequaljustice.org/.

2) Oregon State Bar Diversity Section 2015 Fall CLE & Social
September 24, 2015, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Hotel Monaco -- Lipman Wolfe Conference Room, 506 SW Washington, Portland OR 97204
"Create, Connect, Contract: The Nuts & Bolts Of Public Contracting for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses." 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. CLE (1 hour Access to Justice MCLE credit pending); 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Catered Social. 
Join panelists Melvin Oden-Orr (former Assistant General Counsel to the Portland Development Commission) & Lisa Gramp (Deputy Portland City Attorney) as they discuss how minority and women-owned businesses can effectively procure and manage contracts for governmental projects.The presentation will also address important new legislation that impacts projects utilizing certified firms in Oregon. Please RSVP to Carlos Rasch at [email protected]. 
Cost:  $25 (includes CLE & Catered Social); $15 for Diversity Section members (New Diversity Section members can get the discounted price by signing up for membership at or before the event!); $10 (Catered Social only); No cost for members to attend Social only. Advanced payment preferred, but you may pay in cash or check at the event.  Please mail checks payable to OSB Diversity Section to: OSB Diversity Section –c/o Carlos Rasch, Houser & Allison APC, 9600 SW Oak Street, Ste 570, Portland, OR 97223.

3) Oregon New Lawyers Division Salem Fall Social
September 30, 2015, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Archive Coffee & Bar, 102 Liberty St NE, Suite 120, Salem
Come meet and socialize with other local attorneys new to the practice of law Free appetizers; no host bar. Questions? Email: [email protected]. No RSVP necessary.

4) Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association 2015 Annual Gala Dinner
October 30, 2015, 5:30 p.m.
The Sentinel Hotel | 614 SW 11th Aveue | Portland, Oregon
The theme of this year’s dinner is Asian Pacific Americans: A Community of Many. Oregon’s APA community is extremely diverse and OAPABA embraces all facets of our community. There could be no better keynote speaker to illustrate this theme than the Honorable Mary Yu. Born to immigrants from China and Mexico, Justice Yu is a role model as an Asian American, as a Latina, and as the first gay member of Washington’s Supreme Court. We will also honor the recipient of the 2015 OAPABA Judge Lynn Nakamoto Award, announce the inaugural OAPABA Foundation Scholarship Fund, and feature a special performance of the Jai Ho Bollywood Dreams Dance Troupe. Please join us for the Gala Dinner to celebrate the depth and diversity of our community.
Cost: $85 General Ticket; $65 Student Ticket/Low-income Ticket; $800 Full table (10 general tickets). Please register on our website: www.oapaba.org. For more information please contact: [email protected].

Join MLLS at the Marion-Polk Lawyers' Campaign for Equal Justice Luncheon!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 12:00-1:00 pm
Willamette Heritage Center, aka the Mission Mill Museum

Help us support the Campaign for Equal Justice by sitting with Mary Leonard Law Society at the Annual Marion-Polk Lawyer's Campaign for Equal Justice Luncheon. There is no cost to attend; the luncheon is an excellent opportunity to socialize while learning more about the important work that legal aid is doing in Marion and Polk Counties and across the state.

While the lunch is free, we do encourage you to consider a contribution to the Campaign for Equal Justice. Supporting legal aid is a cause that MLLS members are passionate about and that aligns closely with our organizational goals of ensuring justice and equality in our community. Poverty in Oregon has increased by 61.5% since 2000, and we are currently 8th in the nation for poverty growth. Together, we can help make sure that our neighbors have fair and equal access to justice, regardless of income.

Please let us know if you are available to sit at an MLLS table by contacting us at [email protected]

Road the Bench Presentation with Judge Cheryl Pelligrini
Presented by the Mary Leonard Law Society and the OWLS Judicial Workgroup
Monday, September 22, 2014, 12:00-1:00 pm
Marion County Circuit Courthouse
100 High Street NE, Salem, Oregon, 5th floor jury assembly room.

Marion County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Pelligrini will discuss her road to the bench and share insights on the transition from practicing attorney to judge. OWLS Judicial Workgroup Co-Chair Heather Van Meter will discuss the services provided by OWLS to its members considering the judiciary. Newer attorneys that may be considering the judiciary later in their careers are particularly encouraged to attend. The event is free and no CLE credit will be available. Please RSVP at www.maryleonardlawsociety.org


Other Events of Interest:


Oregon State Bar Diversity Section presents: 2014 CLE & Social Marriage Equality: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Thursday, September 25, 2014,
4:00 to 5:00 p.m. CLE (1 hour Access to Justice MCLE credit pending)
5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Catered Social with no host bar
The Hotel Monaco, 506 S.W. Washington Street, Portland

The Honorable Beth Allen and Attorney Lake Perriguey discuss the twists and turns on the storied road to marriage equality in Oregon and how historic changes will play out in the legal system.

Please RSVP to Megan Livermore at [email protected]

Cost: $25 (includes CLE & Catered Social); $15 for Diversity Section members; $10 (Catered Social only); No cost for members to attend Social only

Please mail payment* to:
OSB Diversity Section –c/o Megan Livermore
Gaydos Churnside & Balthrop, PC
(*make checks payable to OSB Diversity Section)
P.O. Box 1499
Eugene, OR 97440

New Diversity Section members can get the discounted price by signing up for membership at or before the event! Checks and cash will also be accepted at the event, but please RSVP in advance.

Presented by the Mary Leonard Law Society, in association with Willamette University College of Law (WUCL) Career and Professional Development
Wednesday, August 6, 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Oregon Civic Justice Center, Willamette University College of Law

Join us as the 2014-15 MLLS programming season kicks off with Assistant US Attorney Ron Silver's annual Civil Rights CLE presentation! To mark its 50th Anniversary, Mr. Silver will discuss the "Mississippi Burning" Trial, United States v. Cecil Price, et al., 383 U.S. 787 (1966), in which the United States charged a group of 18 men with conspiring in a Ku Klux Klan plot to murder three young civil rights workers (Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman) in Philadelphia, Mississippi on June 21, 1964. 

1.0 access to justice CLE credit pending.

MLLS Lunchtime CLEs are $15 for OWLS members; $20 for non-OWLS members; $10 for Judicial Clerks; and free to students, WUCL staff and professors, and to those not seeking CLE credit. Brownbag lunches welcome. Please RSVP at our website, www.maryleonardlawsociety.org.

Elections for the 2014-2015 MLLS Board of Directors will take place on April 16, 2014 at noon at the Oregon Civic Justice Center, preceding our Spring Ethics CLE: "Technology and the Ethics of Using It." The proposed slate is as follows:

President: Maureen McGee

Secretary: Kelley Washburn

Treasurer: Allison Banwarth

Historian: Tiffany Hamilton

OWLS Liaison: Allison Boomer

Programs Committee Co-Chairs: Allison Boomer and Kate Denning

Media and Publicity: Maureen McGee

Members at Large:
Claudette Rushing
Stephanie Palmblad
Ella Rauch
Jessica Wilcox
Debbie Maryanov
Nani Apo
Shelby Tilden
Erin Dawson

For information on board service, please contact us at [email protected]. Nominations for board positions will be accepted until the time of voting.

Spring Ethics CLE: Technology and the Ethics of Using it
Wednesday, April 16, 12:00-1:00 pm
Oregon Civic Justice Center, 790 State Street, Salem OR

Join us for the final event of the Mary Leonard Law Society 2013-14 season, our Spring Ethics CLE on technology and your ethical responsibilities while using it. Presenters include David Madden, Intellectual Property lawyer with Mersenne Law LLC ; Sheila Blackford, Practice Management Advisor with the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund; and Amber Bevacque-Lynott, Assistant Disciplinary Counsel for the Oregon State Bar. 1 Ethics CLE credit pending.

MLLS Lunchtime CLEs are $15 for OWLS members; $20 for non-OWLS members; $10 for Judicial Clerks; and free to students, WUCL staff and professors, and to those not seeking CLE credit. Brownbag lunches welcome. Please RSVP.

This program will be preceded by elections for the 2014-15 Mary Leonard Law Society board of directors. For information on board service, please contact us at [email protected]. Nominations for board positions will be accepted until the time of voting.

Monte Carlo Casino Night 2014 is on Friday, May 16
6:30-10:00 pm
Creekside Golf Club, Salem, OR

Tickets on sale now!

Back by popular demand, Mary Leonard Law Society is hosting a Monte Carlo Casino Night for our 6th annual spring charity event. Enjoy wine and beer from local producers and hors d’oeuvres while trying your hands at craps, roulette, poker, and black jack. Community supporters will provide a wide array of silent-auction items, and representatives of our featured charity will be on hand to talk about their important work. Buy your tickets today!

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Monte Carlo Title Sponsor:  
Saalfeld Griggs PC

"Welcome to Sunny Las Vegas" Sponsor:
Tomson Burnham LLC

"It's Your Show, Branson" Sponsors:
Heltzel Williams Yandell Roth Smith Petersen & Lush PC
Willamette Valley Bank
Marion County Bar Association
Garmin

"Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World" Sponsors:
Willamette Valley American Inn of Court
Evergreen Income Taxes, Inc.
Fidelity National Title Company of Oregon
Lane and Francine Shetterly
Gatti Gatti Maier Sayer Thayer Smith and Associates

Interested in sponsoring Casino Night, contributing to our silent auction or volunteering to help with the event? Please contact us.

By Erin Dawson

On March 20, the Mary Leonard Law Society and Willamette University College of Law hosted a panel entitled Combating Human Trafficking.

Panelists included Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Horsley, FBI Victim Specialist Shannon Meyer, Joel Shapiro of Shared Hope International, Tanith Rogers of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, Chanpone Sinlapasai of Marandas & McClellan LLC, and Gwynne Skinner, director of the Willamette International Human and Refugee Rights Clinic. 

The presentation detailed the types of human trafficking present in our community, the unique difficulties these human rights violations present for law enforcement, and the ways in which NGOs collaborate with authorities to help victims.  Many of the panelists offered practical tips to identify and respond to possible trafficking situations. 

Panelists noted specific opportunities for attorneys and other community members to become involved.  Professor Skinner suggested tracking relevant legislative bills and assisting with lobbying efforts.  Shannon Meyer and Hannah Horsley noted that traffickers frequently target at-risk youth, so supporting organizations that serve those potential victims can stop trafficking before it happens.

Attendees received a wealth of resources, including tip hotlines, NGO information, and educational materials. 

Article by Allison Boomer

This fall, OWLS offered several events designed to help women advance their careers, including a salary-negotiation workshop and a rainmaking dinner. The Mary Leonard Law Society (MLLS), the OWLS chapter in Salem, joined the conversation with a panel discussion of tips and strategies that women can use to network and market effectively. On October 24, 2013, MLLS, in partnership with Willamette University College of Law, welcomed a distinguished panel that included women in diverse practice areas and with varied levels of experience: Martha Pagel, shareholder and leader of the environmental, energy, and natural resources practice group at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt; Debra Ringold, dean and JELD-WEN professor of free enterprise at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University; Vanessa A. Nordyke, assistant attorney general in the Trial Division at the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ); and Stephanie Palmblad, associate attorney with Collier Law.

Martha Pagel has enjoyed 30 years in the practice of law, including work in both the public and private sectors. Before attending law school, Martha worked in the construction industry and as a newspaper reporter. She began her legal career in state government and subsequently transitioned to private practice, at which point client development and marketing became critical. Martha joked that one of her colleagues describes her as the “water queen” because she is a former director of the Oregon Water Resources Department, but Martha explained that she has used that unique expertise as the focus for her business development efforts. Above all else, she emphasized the importance of doing excellent work and developing a great reputation.

Creating a business plan was essential to Martha’s successful transition to private practice. To create a successful business plan, Martha recommended considering your potential clients as well as the size and scope of your firm. It may be helpful to review business plans written by other attorneys or consult a mentor or role model. Martha identified a lack of thoughtfulness in business development as a pitfall to avoid. She encouraged attorneys to consider their preferred practice setting and find an approach that works. If you do not want to engage in marketing, you may want to consider work in the public sector or for a nonprofit. 

Debra Ringold studies marketing from an academic perspective as a dean and professor at the Atkinson School of Management. She instructed the group on the fundamentals of marketing and resource strategy theory. Debra discussed the three steps of marketing strategy. First, consider what you have to offer to the market; the market values demonstrated competence. Second, identify who in the market cares about what you do, who will be loyal to you, and who will compensate you—that is your audience. Third, identify your competition, not because you need to compete with them, but because they are the alternative to you. Clients want five things: (1) reliability, (2) responsiveness, (3) expertise, (4) empathy, and (5) physical presence.

Debra does not believe in self-promotion or advocate selling yourself. Others, she explained, are not interested in your doing well for you. Successful people go to the marketplace and ask what they can do for others; the money will follow. Debra observed that people respond to authenticity and appreciate those who are comfortable in their own skin. That being said, she acknowledged that it takes a long time to develop confidence. She encouraged the audience members to be introspective as they grow in their professions. 

Before attending law school, Vanessa Nordyke, now an assistant attorney general at DOJ, considered a career in the Foreign Service. She began building a political career, working with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and with the first female governor of Puerto Rico. Political campaigns required Vanessa to spend hours knocking on doors and selling the candidate or the campaign. Rejection was part of the job, and she quickly developed a thick skin. 

Although client development is not part of her job as an attorney for the state, Vanessa has found networking to be rewarding. She suggested attending networking events with a “wing-man” or “wing-woman” to avoid the awkwardness of navigating a crowded room alone. She encouraged audience members to keep an open mind as they network and meet new people, because one never knows where career paths will lead. Vanessa cautioned against self-doubt and encouraged audience members to build their confidence. She observed that some lessons taught to girls do not work well for attorneys, such as, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Stephanie Palmblad, an associate specializing in estate planning, is a newer member of the bar and a self-described “K through JD,” so she entered the practice of law with less work experience than some of her peers. Stephanie emphasized the importance of becoming a visible member of the community and providing a positive experience to her clients. To build her network, Stephanie has given seminars on estate planning and has joined community groups such as the Salem Young Professionals. Stephanie provided practical tips for networking and cautioned against one-sided conversations about your kids, pets, hobbies, or other interests. Instead, she recommended sharing a little bit and following up with a question. 

Stephanie and Vanessa agreed that some people have difficulty taking young women seriously. Vanessa recalled times that she was mistaken for a secretary or a waitress; some people are not inclined to think that a woman may be an attorney. Vanessa believes that it is important for others to see women as professionals and as leaders; she serves on volunteer boards and bar committees. Stephanie has encountered clients and attorneys who, initially, did not take her seriously because she is a young woman. She combats those initial impressions by demonstrating her knowledge of estate planning. 

Several themes emerged during the panel discussion. The panelists all agreed that it is essential to develop a reputation for excellence. Debra observed that your brand is your reputation and your reputation is everything. The panelists all expressed some discomfort with receptions and cocktail parties, agreeing that such networking events can be intimidating, but are a necessary evil. Martha and Stephanie both recommended giving educational seminars as an alternative to networking socials. The panelists agreed on the importance of finding networking and marketing opportunities that are comfortable for you and fit your personality.