We've done so much since we were founded in 1991!
OMLA has given back to the legal community in the following ways!
- Administering and funding our Bar Exam Grant program, including putting on our flagship event: the annual OMLA Summer Social and Fundraising Action.
- The OMLA Annual Meeting and Member Recognition Reception, where we gather each year to honor the accomplishments of OMLA members over the past year.
- The CLE (Continuing Legal Education) Sponsorship Program, providing sponsorship to help OMLA members decrease the cost of accessing CLE programs, seminars, and webcasts. CLE attendance is a requirement of maintaining membership in the Oregon State Bar (OSB).
- The Image Program, which is a retention program designed to build skills, network, and leadership for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups as they begin their legal careers in Oregon.
- Hosting OMLA luncheons. For example, in 2021, we held a lunchtime conversation with that year’s OSB President David Wade. In October 2020, a panel of attorneys of color presented “The Transactional Lawyer Career Path. In 2018, we held a judge’s luncheon where Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson. Both Mr. Wade and Hon. Nelson spoke at length about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal community.
- Facilitating and participating in other community programs such as the Diversity Mediation program, Impartial Justice Project, and occasional CLEs.
- Maintaining an active electronic list-serv with a distribution of member attorneys. Our ecommunications contain information about upcoming OMLA sponsored events, events of interest to the community, and job opportunities and announcements.
- Networking and Social events for Oregon Lawyers.
- Participated in statewide committees and task forces including the Oregon Supreme Court Task force on Racial and Ethnic issues in the Judicial System and the OSB Diversity section.
- Sponsor of Legal Education Programs including the Oregon State Bar Diversity & Inclusion Department event "Opportunities for Law in Oregon," Oregon Hate Crimes Conference (2000), Convocation on Equality (2001), Attorney Recruitment and Retention (2001), ABA National Conference of the Minority Lawyer (2003-2005).