January 25, 2022

1pm-2pm

Diversity Webinar:  Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (DEI) In the Workplace: Creating Impactful and Sustainable DEI Programs in Law Firms

Description: The presentation will largely be geared towards programming for law firms.  The topic of DEI in law firms has been discussed at some level for many years.  But just encouraging awareness and discussion is not enough.  The presentation will provide tips and strategies for attorneys, including those representing local governments, to successfully implement sustainable DEI Programs in law firms. The presentation will also discuss the current trends in diverse hiring and recruitment and the benefits of prioritizing DEI programming.

Speaker: Chanae Wood

Chanae L. Wood is a municipal and land use attorney with a particular interest in issues dealing with First Amendment, medical marijuana and hemp laws. Chanae counsel clients on compliance

with public records, sunshine law and ethics, and matters dealing with comprehensive planning, general municipal, procurement, utilities, administrative, and constitutional law. Chanae serves as the Chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Program Committee. A magna cum laude graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law, Chanae clerked for the Honorable Judge Marcia G. Cooke in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. During law school, she was selected as the first black Editor-in-Chief of the St. Thomas Law Review. Her article, “Black and Poor: The Grave Consequences of Utah v. Strieff,” was published in the Review’s "Voice of the Voiceless" Anniversary Issue.  As a trial team member, Chanae competed in the 2018 ABA Labor and Employment National Trial Competition. She and her teammates were named National Champions — beating teams from UC Hastings College of Law and Harvard Law School. She also served as President of the Black Law Students Association, during which time the organization was bestowed the coveted Student Organization of the Year Award.