Please see attached for information about the George W Crawford Black Bar Association annual dinner, which will take place April 23, 2010 at the Society Room of Hartford.  This year, Crawford will be honoring Dr. Pamela Trotman Reid, president of St. Joseph's College, with the Visionary Award, and Laurie N. Robinson, VP/General Counsel of CBS Broadcasting, with the Trailblazer Award.  

The CHBA is a bar association participant at the ABA Litigation Section annual conference to be held at the Hilton in New York, April 21-23, 2010.  Attached is a registration form including a 10% group discount.   

You are invited to attend the Sixth Annual Ct Bar Association Young Lawyers Section gala, Saturday April 10, 2010 at the Bond Ballroom at 338 Asylum Street.  The cost is $75 per person, and cocktails start at 6:30.  For information about the Gala, including sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Weiner at jweiner27@gmail.com.  RSVP by April 5 to the CBA member service center at 8600-223-4400.  

Please join the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf at a reception to congratulate Carmen M. Ortiz as the new U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts on March 1, 2010, 4:30-6 p.m., John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse Jury Assembly Room.  Please contact Charlene Cox at cmcox@KandSlegal.com to RSVP.  

Join Friends of LatinoJustice in celebrating the achievements of the Latino community and LatinoJustice PRLDEF at the a leadership reception on Tuesday, March 23 at Pranna Restaurant, 79 Madison Avenue, NYC, from 6-9 p.m.  Register via the website below.  

Pullman & Comley, CHBA Secretary Maria Garcia, and other groups have organized a fundraiser to benefit the Haitian Health Foundation.  Tickets are $100 for a multi-course dinner at Jeffrey's in Milford, and thanks to generous sponsorship donations, 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Haitian Health Foundation.  Please review the attached flyer for details.  

The CHBA along with other organizations and the University of Connecticut School of Law is co-hosting a Judicial Branch Employment Panel on March 2.  Please see the attached flyer for details!  

See the attached document for a list of vacancies at the U.S. Department of Justice.  

The George W. Crawford Black Bar Association has sent out a save-the-date for Friday, April 23rd for its annual dinner.  

Connecticut Public Affairs Network, the operator of CT-N (the Connecticut Network) covering state government on cable TV and the internet, is seeking a part-time "elections coordinator." Please see the attached flier for details.  

Angel R. Oquendo, Olimpiad S. Ioffe Professor of International and Comparative Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, has invited attorneys with a Latin American practice to contact him about contributing or sitting in on his class, taught Wednesday afternoons.  If you are interested, please get in touch with Professor Oquendo directly at oquendo@uconn.edu

Please visit the website of the Connecticut Bar Association to register for several seminars FREE to pro bono volunteers.  They include pro bono representation of claimants in unemployment compensation proceedings, school expulsion hearings trainings, and nonprofit law.  

Travelers is currently accepting applications for a position in its Subrogation Complex Claims Unit.  Please see the attached job description for more information.  

Kevin Brophy, a member of the CBA Probate Court Reform Workgroup (chaired by attorneys Brad Gallant and Deb Tedford, is seeking suggestions on how the Probate Court can better serve consumers who have limited English proficiency.  Please send your input to:  Kevin L. Brophy, Regional Director, Connecticut Legal Services, at 203-756-8074 x 110 or via email at kbrophy@connlegalservices.org.  

On February 6, 2010 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., the Connecticut Lawyers for Haiti (a joint project between the Connecticut Chapters of the National Lawyers Guild and the American Immigration Lawyers Association) will be providing pro bono assistance completing TPS immigration applications for eligible Haitians in Hartford, Norwich, New Haven, and Stamford.  If you are an attorney, paralegal, secretary, or student who can help with volunteering, please contact Douglas Penn at Barr & LaCava at 203-356-1505 or dpenn@infolaw.com.  More details will be available from Douglas on the day of the event.  

Toni Smith Rosario, at toni.smith-rosario@po.state.ct.us and Amy Lin Meyerson at amy@almesq.com, both members of the CBA Nominating Committee, would like to encourage the participation of the four bar associations for attorneys of color in the nomination process.  Please contact either of them by Wednesday, January 27, if you are an active member of the CBA and have an interest in being considered for an officer position or if you have any suggestions regarding individuals who may want to serve.  

The National Latino/a Law Students' Association has written to encourage all to help Haiti in the wake of the deadly earthquake that ravaged the country.  Among other things, they recommended the following steps to contribute to the relief effort:  (1) Text the word "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yele Haiti Foundation, founded by Haitian musician Wyclef Jean.  (2) Text the word "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.  (3) Text the word "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.  (4) Text the word "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.  

The CHBA meeting to be held today is cancelled and rescheduled for next Tuesday, January 19th at 6:30 p.m.  

The Department of Justice Tax Division is currently hiring experienced civil trial attorneys and criminal prosecutors, with a special eye toward diversity.  The job announcements are linked below.  Please feel free to contact members of the DOJ Diversity Committee at Tax.Diversity@usdoj.gov if you have questions about this job, questions, or suggestions with respect to the DOJ's diversity efforts.  More information about the Tax Division is available at www.justice.gov/tax 

Emory University Law School is looking for a full-time Director of Alumni Relations and the Annual Fund.  The minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree and 5 years of experience in higher education, development, fund raising, alumni relations or equivalent experience in  a non-profit institution or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.  If you would like additional information, please contact the University directly or visit its employment website (Req ID:  13724BR).  

The Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission encourages interested parties to attend a public hearing for the Appropriations Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, scheduled for Wednesday, December 9 at 2 p.m. in room 2C of the Legislative Office Building at the State Capitol Complex in Hartford.  If you are planning to speak at the hearing, please email Werner Oyanadel, LPRAC Acting Executive Director, at werner.oyanadel@cga.ct.gov for further instructions about how to make your voice heard.  

The University of Hartford has an opening for an Associate General Counsel.  The position involves -- among other things -- assisting the general counsel and the University Secretary, providing advice on a broad range of legal issues, and representing the University's interests with internal constituencies, governmental agencies, external entities, and others.  A J.D. and 5-7 years as a practicing attorney is required.  For more information see the attached flier.  

Applications are being accepted for the full-time position of Deputy Assistant State's Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven, Part A to handle habeas matters (PCN-5408).  Duties will be performed at the duty station or other geographical area offices within the Judicial District.  Starting salary is $2302.61 biweekly, plus fringe benefits and career ladder.  Applicants must be admitted to practice and reside in Connecticut.  Experience in handling habeas matters is preferred.  Division of Criminal Justice application forms as well as a complete job description may be downloaded at www.ct.gov/csao

The CHBA will hold its 16th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at the Hartford Club.  This year, we are honoring the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch as well as CHBA Member the Honorable Jose A. Suarez.  During the past two years, the Judicial Branch has spearheaded efforts to increase its diversity.  Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers will be giving the keynote address on behalf of the Judicial Branch.  The Honorable Jose A. Suarez, a state assistant attorney general for 13 years, was named a judge earlier this year.  As in prior years, the CHBA will also be presenting scholarship awards to exceptional law students who have excelled academically and demonstrated a commitment to community service.  Please join us in celebrating this exciting event!  Details on the attached invitation.  

Save the Date for the 17th Annual University of Connecticut Public Interest Law Group Auction, Friday, November 20th, at 6 p.m. at West Hartford's Town Hall.  All are welcome.  Refreshments served.  Featuring live and silent auctions for items such as weekend getaways, show tickets, local gift certificates, and more!  

The Latino Endowment Fund is honored to present Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr., President of the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute, as the speaker for its fall program.  He will discuss the power of civic engagement in helping the Latino population fulfill its potential.  The program will take place at 5:30 on October 29, 2009 at Room 310 of the State Capitol.  Please RSVP to Betty Ann Grady at bagrady@hfpg.org or 860-548-1888 x 1055.   

The Connecticut Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section is hosting its Fifth Annual Diversity Award Dinner, honoring plaintiff's counsel in the Sheff v. O'Neill case, including John Brittain, Matthew Colangelo, Wesley Horton, Dennis Parker, Martha Stone, Philip Tegeler, and Holly Thomas.  The event will take place Tuesday, November 10 at the Quinnipiack Club in New Haven, with cocktails and registration at 6 p.m.  To register, call the CBA Member Service Center at 860-223-4400.    

The CHBA, along with CAPABA, the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, and SABAC, invite you to the first of their corporate panel series.  The panel will feature lawyers from United Technologies Corporation who will discuss working as in-house lawyers, the role of diversity in a corporate legal department, and more.  Information:  6-8 p.m., October 28th, at 242 Trumbull Street, Hartford.  

On October 1, the CT Pro Bono Network is hosting a pro bono training at the CBA Law Center.  The training is free for members of the Pro Bono Network who agree to take on a case.  Students faced with expulsion often receive very little advance notice about the expulsion hearing and face an experienced attorney from the Board of Education.  Given that many CT schools take a hard line approach with discipline, students face an uphill battle at the hearing and often end up expelled from school without any representation. 

Western New England College School of Law is hosting a half-day event, beginning at noon, on October 13th devoted to deportation defense.  Yale Clinical Professor of Law Michael Wishnie will give a talk entitled "The Immigration Debate:  From the Berkshires to Washington."  The Boston group PAIR will then help prepare attorneys to represent detained clients in immigration proceedings.  Contact Giovanna Shay at gshay@law.wnec.edu or review the attached flyer for information.  

ASPIRA is seeking individuals who may be interested in serving the educational needs of English Language Learner students in the communities of Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Britain, Torrington, Waterbury, and Windham.  They are holding informational sessions throughout the state.  Basic qualifications are:  18+, high school graduate, U.S. citizen or permanent resident.  See flyer for details.  

You are invited to "Mentoring from the Bench:  Judicial Perspectives on How to Succeed in Law School and Beyond," which will take place at Blumberg Hall in the Hosmer Hall Building on the UConn Law School campus on October 1 at 5:30 p.m.  Justice Sabita Singh (MA), Judge Barry Stevens (CT), and new Judge Jose Suarez (CT) will speak as honored guests.  The event is hosted by the CHBA in conjunction with the South Asian Bar Association of CT, the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, and CAPABA.  Please RSVP by September 28 to vspiess@rc.com.  Refreshments provided.  

A panel entitled "Latinos in CT:  Demographic and Survey Findings in Anticipation of the 2010 Census" will take place September 16 at noon at the Storrs UConn campus, Monteith 119.  The panelists are Charles Robert Venator Santiago, Ph.D., UConn-Political Science and Orlando J. Rodriguez, Manager, CT State Data Center, Center for Population Research.  The event is sponsored by the Institute for Puerto Rican and Latino Studies, Department of Political Science, CT State Data Center, and Puerto Rican and Latin American Cultural Center.  

Please click on the link below for information.  

QU students of color are having a picnic at Marilyn Ford's house on September 12 and CHBA members and law students are invited.  The picnic will begin at 4:30 rain or shine.  Anyone interested in coming should send an RSVP to Lauren Carolla at lauren.carolla@quinnipiac.edu.  

Please RSVP to the annual banquet of the South Asian Bar Association of Connecticut, which will be taking place on September 24 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Hartford, by emailing Cecil Thomas at cthomas@ghla.org.  Nominations are also being taken for the Annual Community Service Award and the Member of the Year Award.  

On September 9, the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association will host its first "Crawford Connections" event at SBC at 131 Summer Street in Stamford from 5:30 to 7:30.  Please contact Tyisha Hovanec, at thovanec@rc.com for additional information.  

The George Crawford Black Bar Association is having its next quarterly membership meeting on September 30 at 6:00 p.m. at McCarter & English in Hartford, on the 36th Floor.  Visit the Crawford website for further details about the organization. 

The Commissioner's office of the Department of Education has put out a job posting for the director of the legal and governmental affairs department, with an application deadline date of September 11. Please see attached posting for further details.  

The Connecticut Fair Housing Center seeks an attorney to assist with providing assistance to residents of Connecticut facing foreclosure.  The application deadline is September 18. For more details, see the attached flyer.  

The Amistad Black Bar Association of Long Island invites CHBA members to is "champagne brunch" at the Eastville Community Historical Society Heritage House in Sag Harbor on September 12.  For more information, contact Ghenya B. Grant, Esq., at 631.374.6882 or J. Stewart Moore, Esq., at 516.901.5897.  RSVP by September 8 to gglaw02@yahoo.com with your name, telephone number, and number of guests.  

The Hispanic Professionals Network has announced its Tenth Annual Awards dinner, to take place September 19, 2009 at Foxwoods.  The keynote speaker is Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez, the Secretary of State of New York.  One award is going to past CHBA award recipient Juan Figueroa.  For more information, contact Gil Martinez at gil.martinez@sbcglobal.net or the link below.  

Please see attached for information about CAPABA's annual dinner, to take place Wednesday, September 9th with keynote speaker Sandra Leung.  Please contact Tanya Bovee at boveet@jacksonlewis.com for more details.  

A distinguished panel will discuss the recent Supreme Court decision Ricci v. DeStefano in a CHBA-sponsored event.  The panel will convene at Quinnipiac Law School on August 18th, with light refreshments to follow.  Please see the attached PDF for further details about the event and the RSVP.  

New Haven Legal Assistance has just published a description for a deputy director position.  Details about the job and the application process are in the attached Word document.  

CHBA attorneys who would like to volunteer to conduct mock interviews with UConn Law School students as part of our outreach to area law schools should contact Virginia Spiess at vspiess@rc.com or Toni Smith-Rosario at toni.smith-rosario@po.state.ct.us.  Available dates include August 17 and September 2.  Virginia and Toni can provide more information, but please get in touch with them by July 31!  

LatinoJustice PRLDEF is collecting signatures for a petition to deliver to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.  Please sign the petition, found at the link below, if you are interested in joining this effort.  

Nixon Peabody, one of the largest law firms in the world, is seeking a litigation associate for its New York City office.  Please see the attached flyer for information about the position.  

The state will be conducting a series of Brown Bag Lunches to address the upcoming mandatory e-filing rules, open to attorneys and legal support staff. 
If you have any questions, or if you would like additional
information, kindly contact Alice Mastrony atalice.mastrony@jud.ct.gov or by phone at (860) 706-5321, or Janice Calvi at Janice.calvi@jud.ct.gov or by phone at (860) 263-2734 Ext. 3038.

Attached please find a description for an assistant/associate clinical professor in the Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic at the University of Connecticut School of Law.  

The State of Connecticut Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission has announced an open public board meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at New Haven City Hall.  Any and all attendees interested in speaking to the LPRAC Board regarding issues affecting the Latino community in New Haven (and statewide) will be given an opportunity to do so.  For more information, call LPRAC at 860-240-8330.  

Please see attached for a description of an open position for an attorney at Travelers.  

Please see attached for an announcement for an open policy director position at the National Immigration Law Center. 

The Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association proudly endorses the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor--an honorary member of the CHBA and 1998 CHBA Achievement Award recipient--to the Supreme Court. Please see attached for a press release and more information about President Obama's historic nomination.   

The CHBA is pleased to announce the election of its officers and directors.  Please see attached for a press release! 

The Young Lawyers Section of the Connecticut Bar Association invites recently admitted attorneys to a reception in honor of thier achievement.  Date:  Tuesday, June 23, 2009.  Time:  6-8 p.m.  Location:  Hartford 21, Third Floor, 221 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT.  Off-site parking available at the Asylum and Church Streets garage.  RSVP by calling 860-223-4400 before June 15, 2009. 

The New York City Bar Association and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association present the Pipeline Fair & Networking Reception, Wednesday May 27 from 5-7 p.m. at 42 West 44th Street in New York City.  Please RSVP to diversity@nycbar.org or call Zakiyyah Salim-Williams at 212-382-6689 for more information.  

On May 8 from 4-9 p.m., the Hartford Public High School Law & Government Academy (at 55 Forest Street) is hosting a fundraising event for victims of genocide.  General admission is $5, which includes two raffle tickets, and there will be food, music, movies, face painting, raffles, and other activities.  Please contact Bridget Allison at ALLIB001@hartfordschools.org for more information. 

The National Association of Law Professionals and the Association for Law Firm Diversity Professionals are holding a fourth annual diversity summit on June 5 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.  More information is available at www.nalp.org/events. 

The Hartford County Bar Association will be hosting a reception honoring Connecticut's judges and justices on May 14, 2009 from 5:30-7:30 at the Hartford Club.  For more information or to purchase tickets to this event, please click on the link below or email programinfo@hartfordbar.org.  Update:  If you are a CURRENT CHBA member, the $38 rate is available to you.

Please see attached for a list of vacancies on state-level boards and commissions, updated as of April 2009.  If you have questions or are interested in applying, please contact Alexis Cruz, CHBA Board Member, at acruz@travelers.com

Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman have recently formed an advisory panel of distinguished state residents to "solicit, screen and comment on candidates" for federal positions such as the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshall.  Canddiates must be highly qualified with strong academic backgrounds, appropriate legal work experience, and a willingness to have his/her tax records scrutinized extensively.  CHBA members in good standing are strongly encouraged to emphasize CHBA experience in their cover letters.  Interested candidates must act quickly as interviews will start to be scheduled by late April.  Any questions regarding the process can be directed to Alexia Cruz, Chair of the CHBA Judicial Selection Committee, at acruz@travelers.com or 860-277-5695.

An April 27 lecture from 5:00-7:30 at UConn Law School will celebrate the 20th anniversary of filing the Sheff v. O'Neill case.  A lecture by Susan Eaton of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute, will be followed by remarks from John Brittan and Elizabeth Horton Sheff.  The event is co-sponsored by the UConn Black Law Students' and Latino Law Students' Associations.  More information in the attached flyer. 

Please see attached for the invitation to the Crawford Black Bar Association's annual dinner, to take place April 16, 2009, at the Hartford Hilton Hotel.  Scholarships will be awarded to three students, and the annual award recipients are Connecticut Legal Services, Greater Hartford Legal Aid, and the New Haven Legal Assistance Association. 

The Hartford County Bar Association, in conjunction with the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association and the Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association, are offering a 2-hour CLE course called:  "LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter:  Social Networking for Lawyers" on May 6.  A registration form and logistical information can be found on the website below.