Page 5 - June2019_BarJournal

COLuMN BarJournal

JULY/AUGUST 2015

Back To THE FUTUrE:

THank YoU For a GrEaT YEar

Marlon A. Primes FroM THE PrESIDEnT

It is hard to believe it has been one year since successfully represent clients in Cleveland and Meeting our Present Challenges
the start of my presidency and the launch across the country. We learned about the rich Our journey Back to the Future has also enabled
of our theme for the bar year, “Back to the history of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, us to take concrete steps to ensure the current
Future: Celebrating Our Past and Preparing which was one of the first of its kind in the country version of our bar association and overall legal
ifor Our Future.” Those who are familiar with at its founding in 1905. Finally, we honored community are inclusive and welcoming to
the trilogy of movies that inspired our theme and the memory of the late U.S. Congresswoman all members of our diverse legal profession.
who have paid attention to the projects completed Stephanie Tubbs Jones in our Legacy Series and Consequently, we entered into a historic
this year understand our theme was not designed held a crowded reception in her honor with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with
to travel back in time and only marvel at the work Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter of Delta the local bars of color, which will provide
and sacrifices of our ancestors. Instead, like the Sigma Theta during International Women’s Day. them with storage space, the use of the CMBA
movie “Back to the Future,” we travelled through If you have not already done so, please examine mailing address, and modest administrative
our history to help our bar association and legal the amazing, informative, and inspiring 11-part support from the CMBA. In exchange, the
community better navigate our present challenges series at CleMetroBar.org/President. bars of color, which have local, regional, and
and prepare for our amazing future. Our Cultural Legacy Series allowed us to national networks, will help us attract and retain
learn how the Irish, Italian, and Slovenian attorneys of color in our bar association and legal
Celebrating our Past communities were founded in Cleveland, community. At the American Bar Association’s
To honor our past, John Lewis of BakerHostetler and learn about the outstanding lawyers and Bar Leadership Institute for current and future
helped us launch the Legal Legacy Series in our judges they helped produce. Our Past President presidents of bar associations, the MOU was
Bar Journal, which has chronicled the outstanding Presents Series maintained our close connection recognized as an innovative program that should
accomplishments and history of iconic Cleveland to past presidents by allowing them to briefly be replicated around the country.
lawyers, law firms, and legal institutions. Through discuss the highlights of their presidential terms. Managing partners and attorneys with
the Legacy Series, we learned how BakerHostetler During the series, our CMBA board of directors hiring authority attended our Diversity and
and other firms provided legal advice to help learned about Hugh McKay’s founding of our Inclusion Masterclass Series and learned about
establish and guide many historic Cleveland award-winning 3Rs program, Steve Kaufman’s the importance of establishing an effective
businesses and institutions. We were inspired by outstanding stewardship of our bar association’s diversity committee, best practices for retention
the humble beginnings of Walter Haverfield, which move to the Galleria, Carter Strang’s creation and recruitment of a diverse workforce, and
was created from a chance meeting of the founding of the position of Vice President for Diversity best practices for business development for
partners at the Ohio Bar Examination. Ulmer & and Stokes Scholars, and David Kutik’s strategic minority partners and associates. We also
Berne was established more than 100 years ago plan and creation of the Bar Leadership created an online diversity directory to allow
because Cleveland law firms refused to hire Jewish Institute. We also learned from Jay Milano, the general counsels around the country to locate,
lawyers at that time. Ulmer’s initial office was so former president of the Cuyahoga County Bar hire, and retain local law firms that employ
small that one of its two founding partners had Association (CCBA), about the history behind outstanding attorneys of color.
to leave when the other partner wished to speak the merger of the CCBA and the Cleveland Our inaugural Veterans Day program
privately with a client. Bar Association (CBA) into the Cleveland honored attorneys who have served in
We were also intrigued by the early growth Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA). Mr. the military, and all members of our legal
of Thompson Hine from the interest founding Milano taught us that the CCBA was founded community learned how to provide volunteer
partner Amos Burt Thompson took in specializing in 1927 because of the perception that the CBA legal services for local veterans in need.
in a new federal law. His partners were skeptical was not always inclusive of attorneys from small Because many attorneys with military
about his endeavor, but they eventually relented. firms and/or from diverse religious and racial backgrounds work in the local, state, and/
To their surprise, they later reaped the benefits backgrounds. Thus, we were reminded that or federal government, they will be able to
of Mr. Thompson’s expertise in the new law, we must always be mindful of diversity and take advantage of our revitalized Government
the Bankruptcy Act of 1898, as it allowed Mr. inclusion, and we should never forget the work Lawyers’ Section, which is working to create a
Thompson and other members of the firm to and sacrifice of our outstanding prior leaders. veterans subcommittee.
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