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Georgia Diversity Program

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What is the Georgia Diversity Program?

Established in 1993 by State Bar Past President Charles T. Lester Jr. and Hon. Marvin Arrington, the mission of the State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program (GDP) is to provide support to, and to promote the inclusion of and advocate for the advancement of, all members of the State Bar of Georgia regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or age.

The program achieves its mission by:

  • Providing forums to discuss recent diversity and inclusion developments in the legal profession;
  • Presenting annual continuing legal education programs on diversity and inclusion trends, strategies, policies and initiatives that corporate, government and not-for-profit legal departments and law firms are successfully implementing;
  • Furnishing resources on diversity and inclusion and strategies to promote diversity in the legal workforce;
  • Presenting an annual business development symposium that is designed to (1) promote inclusion of women and minorities on outside counsel teams that serve corporate and governmental clients; (2) create opportunities for women and diverse counsel to develop relationships with corporate in-house counsel and government counsel; and (3) provide majority and minority-owned law firms opportunities to hear from corporate and government in-house counsel on how corporations and governmental entities measure diversity and inclusion initiatives of firms when selecting outside counsel;
  • Presenting an annual judicial and summer associates reception to demonstrate to law school students the State Bar of Georgia’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the profession, and encourage new attorneys to become members of the State Bar of Georgia.
  • Coordinating a High School Pipeline Program that introduces law firms, and corporate, government and not-for-profit legal departments to talented minority students in Georgia’s high schools who have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in law after college and that provides educational programs designed to help such students achieve their goals.

Annual GDP Dues

Annual GDP Members Dues are the primary funding source for the Georgia Diversity Program. Funding is also generated by events held throughout the year.

  • Corporations/law firms with more than 25 attorneys | $2,500
  • Law firms with 11-25 attorneys | $1,000
  • Law firms with 2-10 attorneys | $500
  • Solo practitioners | $250

State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program Members

Byrne Davis & Hicks, P.C.
City of Atlanta Department of Law
Elarbee Thompson Sapp & Wilson, LLP
The Employment Law Solution, LLC
Equifax
Greenberg Traurig
Hall, Booth & Smith, P.C.
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP
Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs, LLP
Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers, LLP
Winter Capriola Zenner, LLC

For more information, contact:

Halima H. White

800 Mt. Vernon Highway NE, Suite 410
Atlanta, GA 30328
404-219-8174
gadiversityprogram@gmail.com