JANUARY 18, 2021: CLE: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN LAW FIRMS

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​Thank you to all who attended our CLE this evening on Diversity and Inclusion! What an amazing turnout thanks to our panelists:

Mary Clare Bonaccorsi, Philip Corboy, Justi Rae Miller, Melissa Root, and Dr. Malaika Tyson. And special thank you to our moderator Hon. William Haddad.

AABAR was proud to celebrate 30 years with over 200 attendees and Keynote Speaker Governor JB Pritzker! Congratulations to Judge William Haddad who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and to our Distinguished Honorees: Hon. Francesco Caprio, Hon. Timothy L. Kilbride, and the Doe v Trump Trial Team: Vivian Khalaf, Omar Abuzir, and Lana Nassar. We were also proud to have Hon. Timothy C. Evans install President Marvet M. Sweis and Hon. Rouhy J. Shalabi install Vice President Nura Yanaki, Treasurer Tony Abou Ezzi, Corresponding Secretary Lana Nassar, and Recording Secretary Jawad Shalabi. The event made the cover of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin! 

What an AMAZING turnout for our first general meeting of the year! Thank you to our honored speakers, AABAR’s Judge Samuel Betar, Judge Michael Betar, Judge William Haddad, and Judge Rouhy Shalabi for making today a huge success! 

Thank you to all who attended our Career Panel, helping make the program a success! Special thank you to our Panelists: Hon. William J. Haddad and Hon. Rouhy J. Shalabi from the Judiciary; Cory Cassis and Sara Ghantous from the Public Sector; Robert Fakhouri and Donna Haddad from the Private Sector; Mona Elgindy from the Non for Profit Sector; and Moderator Wesam Shahed. 

Hon. William J. Haddad spoke at NIU Law's 27th Annual Francis X. Riley Lecture on Professionalism. His lecture, entitled "The Legal Profession's Ideals of Public Service: A Study of the Emergence and Impact of a Minority Bar Association upon American Society," drew an outstanding attendance.  

READ MORE HERE,  https://law.news.niu.edu/2021/04/02/judge-haddad-to-give-francis-x-riley-lecture-on-4-8/ 

TO WATCH, VISIT  https://mediaspace.niu.edu/media/NIU+College+of+Law+Francis+X.+Riley+Lecture+on+Professionalism+2021/1_w83134kg 

The Chicago Bar Association hosted its prestigious 2021 Annual Vanguard Awards where AABAR's Vivian R. Khalaf was honored! This special award ceremony honors individuals and institutions who have made the law and legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large. 

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin featured an article on AABAR by our very own Vice President Nura Yanaki for its special edition celebrating Law Day 2021. 

AABAR hosted a legal educational forum addressing issues of international law, specifically with respect to the recent events that have unfolded in Sheikh Jarrah. Panelists included Attorney Yasmine Ahmed with the United Kingdom Human Rights Watch; Attorney Vivian Khalaf of Khalaf & Abuzir; Rami George Khouri, Director of Global Engagement with American University of Beirut; and International Human Rights Attorney Jonathan Kuttab, Co-Founder of Just Peace Advocates and Nonviolence International. Hon. William J. Haddad presented the panelists and Prof. John Breen served as moderator. 

Presented by AABA, AABAR, CABA, Decalogue, FALA, HLAI, KABA, PRBA, and SABA, a forum with over 100 in attendance gathered with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to discuss ideas on how we can move from working in our silos to taking collective action to dismantle racism and hate. 

Thank you to all who zoomed in for a remarkable CLE panel lecture! Panelists included Dean Zelda Harris (Loyola University School of Law), Dean Cassandra Hill (Northern Illinois University College of Law), Dean Jennifer L. Rosato Perea (DePaul University College of Law), Dean James B. Speta (Northwestern Pritzker School of Law), Dean Chante Spann (UIC-John Marshall School of Law), and Professor Zeina Zaatari (Director, Arab American Cultural Center), with Presenter Hon. William Haddad.

AABAR is incredibly honored to have received the 2021 "You are Beautiful" Award by the Alliance of Illinois Judges (AIJ) for our video message showcased at AIJ's Bench & Bar Parade! Special thank you to AIJ's outgoing President, the Honorable Mary Catherine Marubio, for her unparalleled success as a leader in the legal community and for bringing all communities together.

Another outstanding turnout for AABAR’s General Meeting this afternoon! Always great to see old and new faces and to hear about exciting upcoming projects!

Congratulations to our very own Vivian Khalaf who has been named among the "Top 50 Women in Law" by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin during its Second Annual Salute Awards Celebration today! Vivian, you continue to raise our community and make us proud! Congratulations on this well deserved honor.