CMCP WELCOMES TARA BEDEAU

The California Minority Counsel Program's board of directors officially welcomed Tara Bedeau as the organization's new executive director.

Bedeau hails from Littler Mendelson, the largest labor and employment law firm in the nation, where she began her legal career as a litigator, representing and counseling management clients in various types of labor and employment matters arising under state and federal law. Her practice has since expanded to include the development and dispensation of preventative strategies for employers through live, in-person and Web-based compliance training. Bedeau has developed training curricula involving such subjects as employment law (including EEOC compliance), performance management, diversity and ethics. She has traveled nationally to train and individually coach executives, managers, HR professionals, attorneys and employees in a wide array of industries, and her expertise has led to a wide array of appearances as a broadcast commentator and as a featured speaker and seminar leader at industry conferences. Bedeau has published articles on topics ranging from employment law compliance and diversity to best management practices and the law of training.

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"Tara Bedeau brings a remarkable breadth of experience, professionalism and talent that will serve the California Minority Counsel Program extremely well in fulfilling its mission," said Dennis Herrera, San Francisco City Attorney and 2008 Chair of the CMCP Board of Directors. "Her dedication to diversity and equal treatment in the workplace is exactly the kind of leadership our profession needs in post-Prop. 209 California -- not simply to encourage a more inclusive workforce, but one that is more responsive to the needs of minority communities as well."

As Executive Director of CMCP, Bedeau will be responsible for providing creative leadership to the organization as it fulfills its mission to promote diversity among California's attorney population and to advance a more inclusive and just legal profession. CMCP focuses on developing professional opportunities and creating pipeline programs for underrepresented and minority attorneys and individuals, to ensure their continued participation in the legal profession. In her new capacity, Bedeau will oversee and engage in program development, public relations, community outreach, recruitment, public speaking, event planning, fundraising, and marketing.

In 2001, the California State Bar estimated that only 17 percent of the state's attorneys were people of color -- while the percentage of minorities fulfilling such leadership roles as general counsel, law firm partners and judges was dramatically lower. Founded in 1989 to address this disparity, CMCP's work in recent years has become even more critical as the number of minority law students in the state's public law schools dropped precipitously following voters' passage of Proposition 209. CMCP, which was modeled on the American Bar Association's Minority Demonstration Project, was founded when Wells Fargo Bank, First Interstate Bank, Bank of America, Chevron and Pacific Telesis Group united to become the initial participants in the Program. CMCP is now entirely self-funded through annual contributions by its membership and event revenues.

MCCA'S CLE EXPO

Plan now to join other in-house counsel and law firm attorneys at MCCA’s 7th Annual CLE Expo to be held March 26-28th at the Chicago Marriott Downtown.  This is a premier educational event for in-house counsel. MCCA’s goal for this conference is to build "bridges of opportunity” by bringing together the best and brightest, with a special emphasis on talented minority and women attorneys who will share their expertise on substantive legal practice areas. The CLE Expo has developed a great attendance track record and sells out quickly.  Register before Feb. 29th to save $100 off the regular registration rate.

There are concurrent tracks in five substantive legal areas: corporate governance, intellectual property, labor & employment, litigation & investigation and law & global commerce. There will also be the additional track that offers "value-added strategies” for sharpening any lawyer’s career focus, as well as marketability and negotiation skills. 

During the Expo, you may wish to attend all five sessions in a particular track, or you might choose to mix and match among the six tracks. To learn more about the six tracks and the offerings in each, download the conference brochure (PDF).

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The Keynote Speakers will also be a draw this year. At the Thursday Luncheon on March 27th, Gwen Ifill’s presentation will be, "Beyond the Spin: Reflections from Inside the Beltway."  Ms. Ifill is the moderator and managing editor of the popular PBS television show, Washington Week, and she is also a senior correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.

The Opening Plenary Session on March 27th will feature Linda Thomsen, the Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement.  Her presentation will be "Perspectives from the Director of Enforcement."  She will have much to share with her more than 10 years as a staff member and now Director of the Division. Before joining the SEC, Ms. Thomsen was in private practice.

The conference brochure outlines the general registration fees and also in-house group specials and directions on how to register.

And there's one more special that MCCA offers to CLE Expo attendees. You can purchase tickets for the MCCA Midwest Region Diversity Dinner for only $250. Plan to arrive early on Wednesday, March 26th and come celebrate the Midwest Region's Employers of Choice and Thomas L. Sager Award winners – which are selected companies and law firms that are dedicated to inclusiveness in the legal profession.  To qualify for this special dinner rate, you must submit your registration and payment for both events by March 21, 2008. Instructions for ordering tickets are included in the conference registration form in the brochure.

For any questions regarding MCCA’s 7th Annual CLE Expo Conference, please contact Peter Chin, Education Manager, at peterchin@mcca.com or call 202-739-5901.

California Minority Counsel Program · 465 California Street · Suite #635 · San Francisco · CA · 94104
www.cmcp.org · 415.782.8990 · 415.477.2391 (fax) · cmcp@cmcp.org