2022 Annual Business Conference Planning Committee

CMCP’s goal is to have a  Conference Committee that reflects our members based on racial diversity, organization type, and geographical area. Ideally, the Committee will be comprised of first-time volunteers and veterans so attorneys who have served in prior years are welcome to apply.

Unless otherwise agreed by the Executive Director, committee members must be licensed attorneys of color, employed at a CMCP member organization, ideally with 5 – 15 years of practice experience.

Members may be selected by the Executive Director or vetted through a review process after candidates submit an application.

Committee members must be committed to attending the full conference, and able to meet the time commitment required to actively contribute as a committee member.

Attendance at a prior Annual Business Conference and/or other CMCP events is strongly preferred, as is experience in organizing legal education seminars or workshops.

The Conference Committee will help select relevant and useful topics and design panels to present at the Annual Conference.

Conference Committee members may serve as moderators, panelists, or session coordinators but conference speaking participation is not guaranteed and should not be a primary reason for volunteering to be on the committee.

The Conference Committee may be invited by the Executive Director to comment on or contribute ideas for the conference. At the live conference, committee members are expected to support CMCP and event staff to ensure the program session runs smoothly.

There will be one to two teleconferences of the entire Committee to discuss the role and expectations and to answer questions.

The Committee will share ideas on potential topics for the upcoming Conference (panel topics and ideas from previous years will be shared), and help decide on topics.

Committee members will form working groups to develop panels, determine objectives and format, and develop written materials.

Members gain the opportunity to make a specific and concrete contribution to CMCP’s mission of advancing opportunities for the professional development of attorneys of color.

Conference Committee members receive complimentary registration for the full conference (not including hotel and travel) and may:

• Expand your professional network by working with a range of highly talented committee members.
• Receive recognition in conference marketing materials and appreciation for your contribution.
• Enjoy of getting to know and working with thoughtful and engaging  committee members, panelists and others helping to make a great session and great conference.
• Develop skills and experience in designing and implementing effective educational programs, working with and sometimes leading and directing the work of other lawyers and professionals, and working collaboratively with a range of diverse lawyers.
• Gain deep knowledge in an area of law, business or issues of diversity in the legal profession.
• Elevate your profile in the CMCP community and increase opportunities for selection and involvement in other CMCP activities.

At minimum, members will be expected to join biweekly calls with the full committee in addition to calls with the panel working group.

The number of meetings will vary based on the complexity of the program design. Meetings will increase in frequency as the conference approaches.

Working groups may be involved in conducting research, drafting materials, creating exercises or hypotheticals, and/or recruiting speakers.

A detailed timeline will be shared when the conference committee is formed, and it is critical that committee members communicate in advance if work or personal obligations make the time commitment unworkable.

Members of the Committee may be asked to serve as moderators or group facilitators at the Conference, but speaking opportunities are not guaranteed.

Please do not volunteer for the Committee if speaking is a primary motivation. Speaker selection is made by the Executive Director and based on the best interests of CMCP its members, and the conference attendees.