Click here to view this message in a browser window

NEWSLETTER October 2020

Engage. Empower. Elevate.

Membership

Upcoming Programs

Donate Today

President's Message

LANGSTON VOTES! As we enter the 4th Quarter of this unprecedented year, we must not only take stock of our own lives, but also focus on the future of our nation now that we are less than one month away from perhaps the most important election in its history. Voting is one of the most impactful actions you can take to support yourself and the community. Even beyond the Presidential election, there are many important statewide ballot measures as well as contests for state and local races. It is important for all of us to cast our votes on all levels. This year more than ever voting rights and the democratic election process are under attack. Langston Bar, through its #LangstonVotes non-partisan voting initiative, has been sharing information on voter’s rights, educating voters on local issues, and presenting programs to empower voters and increase voter turnout. To that end, Langston presented the 2nd District Supervisor Candidates Forum, the Langston & Community Coalition’s Reimagining Freedom: Know Your Rights Virtual Forum, and co-sponsored the Social Justice in the Modern Civil Rights ERA: Voting Rights Forum along with ACC SoCal and Ogletree Deakins. We are also a proud co-sponsor of the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s District Attorney Debate on Oct 6th, and we encourage you to register at the link below. In addition to participating in Langston’s programs, we encourage you to look for other ways to protect the vote. For example, consider signing up to be a poll worker, as I have done. Or, you can work with the National Bar Association (NBA) on its election protection campaign as a Protection Hotline Captain (see the sign up info below). Please consider doing your part to protect the right to vote and our democracy. “The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.” John Lewis Nyanza Shaw, Esq. President, John M. Langston Bar Association Please visit langstonbar.org for program updates.

. LANGSTON BAR POLICE . ACCOUNTABILITY TASK FORCE Mark J. McLaughlin presented at the Police Commission Community Forum on Police Reform on behalf of the Langston Bar Police Accountability Task Force. Watch Clip Now . MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Langston Bar Lifetime Member Charlene L. Usher has recently been appointed to Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA)’s newly formed Racial Justice & Equality Advisory Council. The goal of the Council is to advise the Board of Governors regarding positions and programming that will assist in WLALA’s efforts to become more diverse, to identify and challenge racism in and outside of the legal profession and to be an inviting and welcoming place for women attorneys of color. . CONGRATS TO BWL! Langston Bar congratulates newly installed President Michelle Kazadi and Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Inc. (BWL) on a successful virtual installation event. Congratulations to the 2020-2021 Board Officers & Committee Chairs. . IN MEMORIAM Nelson Lawrence Atkins, Esq. May 27, 1939 - September 11, 2020 Legendary attorney Nelson L. Atkins was a well-respected member of the legal community and a Langston Bar Hall of Fame inductee. Mr. Atkins graduated from Loyola Law School and was admitted to the California Bar in June 1965. In 1970, he partnered with Johnnie Cochran and Irwin S. Evans to form Cochran Atkins & Evans, then later he, along with Evans, formed Atkins & Evans. Langston Bar sends its condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. . THANK YOU! Langston Bar would like to thank Chef Shanita Castle and Castles Catering for catering & delivering meals for the Langston Bar Lifetime Members Brunch! Check them out at castlescatering.com. . #LANGSTONVOTES The election is next month, November 3! By now, you've received your Official Voter Information Guide. Review pages 2 and 3. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters starting October 5. If you do not receive one, contact your county elections office. FILL OUT the ballot.  INSERT ballot into the return envelope. SEAL the envelope. COMPLETE the required information on the envelope.  SIGN the envelope or the vote will not count. (Signature must match the signature on your CA driver license.) DROP off the ballot at your polling location BEFORE 8 p.m. on Election Day.  (If someone is dropping off the ballot for you, you MUST complete the authorization on the envelope.)

UPCOMING PROGRAMS Making The Case For Prop 16: Hear from the Experts TODAY OCT 5 at 12:00pm PST LA County District Attorney Debate October 6, 2020 Langston Bar & City National Bank present a 3 Part Business Recovery Series- Part I: Let's Level Set October 8, 2020 2020 Teen Leadership Digital Festival and Scholarship Fundraiser October 17, 2020 AFFILIATE ORGANIZATION EVENTS FROM PROP. 209 TO PROP. 16: Historical, Legal, and Activist Perspectives on Affirmative Action October 7, 2020 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Racial Justice: Where Do We Start October 29, 2020

Help Voters from Home The National Bar Association has partnered with Election Protection and We The Action to recruit Black attorneys to serve as Hotline Captains working remotely from home. They need 786 Captains. Protection Hotline answering questions under the direction/supervision of a Hotline Captain.  What - Lead a team of 5 legal support staff answering Election Protection Hotline inquiries. When – Need is ongoing. Where - Use a computer and the Internet to access the online platform from home. How – First, go to nbaelectionprotection.com to register. Once registered with the NBA, lawyers will be re-directed to partner site www.wetheaction.org to volunteer, get training, and receive hotline assignments. Once re-directed to We The Action, select “NBA” from the drop-down menu to indicate affiliation. Next, complete the mandatory training, which includes platform technology training and working the Election Protection Hotline answering questions under the direction/supervision of a Hotline Captain.

. WHAT IS PROP 16? In California, we believe in giving everyone, regardless of race or gender, an equal shot at fair wages, good jobs, and quality schools. But we’re not there yet. Women and people of color still face discrimination in hiring, employment, contracting, and education. California is one of only nine states that bans affirmative action as a tool to fight discrimination. Proposition 16 is our chance to change that by ending the ban and expanding opportunity for all.

Yes on Prop Info

. GET INVOLVED Volunteer on the Scholarship Committee The scholarship committee is seeking volunteer members to help fundraise, plan programs, review scholarship applications, etc. Contact Scholarship Chair Latrice Byrdsong at latricebyrdsong@gmail.com if interested.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS

Littler Mendelson P.C. Labor and Employment Associate Littler Mendelson P.C. is seeking an attorney with 3+ years of labor and employment law experience to join the Los Angeles office. Wage and Hour / Class Action experience preferred. The candidate should possess excellent academic credentials and his/her experience should include significant litigation experience. The candidate must be licensed to practice law in California. We offer a generous benefits package to all full-time employees. Littler is the largest global employment and labor law practice in the world exclusively devoted to representing management. With more than 1,500 attorneys in over 75 offices worldwide, Littler serves as the single source solution provider to the global employer community. Consistently recognized in the industry as a leading and innovative law practice, Littler has been litigating, mediating and negotiating some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record for 75 years. For more information, contact Tanja L. Darrow at (213) 443-4240 or tdarrow@littler.com.

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP Labor and Employment Associate – San Jose, Oakland, or San Francisco Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is seeking a skilled and motivated associate attorney for one of the listed locations to join its Labor and Employment Law Practice Group. Labor negotiations and employment counseling for public and private clients, excellent writing, research and analytical skills, 3-5 years’ experience. Prior litigation experience is beneficial for the position.  Qualified candidates, please email cover letter, resume, and writing sample to avanwye@bwslaw.com. EOE.

Fenwick & West Mid-Level Securities Litigation Associates - Mountain View or San Francisco Offices Fenwick & West’s Securities Litigation Group handles a wide range of civil and regulatory matters for its corporate and individual clients. In the civil arena, we represent issuers (including Fortune 100 and leading technology and life science companies) and their directors and officers in securities class actions, derivative suits, merger litigations and other civil actions arising from securities-related disputes. Fenwick also has an active internal investigation, regulatory, and white collar defense practice. This includes representing audit and special committees in connection with internal investigations related to allegations of accounting fraud, whistleblower claims, or alleged violations of anti-bribery laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. It also includes defending companies and individuals in connection with DOJ and SEC investigations and regulatory proceedings. In the recent past, Fenwick’s Securities Litigation Group was named “Securities Litigation Department of the Year” by one of California’s leading legal publications. We provide an unrivaled platform for associates eager to be on the front lines, learning to litigate on behalf of some of the world’s most cutting-edge technology and life sciences companies and handle complex investigatory and regulatory matters. We are currently seeking mid-level securities litigation associates to join either of our Bay Area (San Francisco or Mountain View) offices. Applicants should have three to five years of relevant experience. Superior academic credentials, excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills a must. CA bar membership preferred. Click here for more info

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney - Criminal Justice The ACLU Foundation of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) seeks an experienced Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney to build and lead litigation, legal, and policy advocacy to protect and expand transformational criminal justice changes throughout Southern California. The Attorney will also provide technical assistance to community groups and develop advocacy to expand the rights of people who are or have been in contact with the criminal legal system. Click here for more info

OUR MISSION

To empower leadership, advance the professional development of its membership, and promote the administration of justice in the Black community and the community at large.

Stay Connected!

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌