FEATURED POSTS:
Re: Meetings & COVID-19
During this unprecedented time when Covid-19 has affected our day to day professional and personal lives, the AMBA Board has been meeting regularly (virtually) to decide how our organization plans to forge ahead with meeting our goals during this "new normal." For the foreseeable future, and for the health and safety of our members, AMBA does not plan to schedule any monthly meetings. We will continue to meet as a board and monitor the Covid-19 situation here in Arizona and provide updates to our members as information develops. We again thank everyone for making our February scholarship banquet a success - the proceeds of which will be awarded as scholarships to law students in November. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We appreciate your membership and look forward to working with you in the coming months as we navigate through unchartered waters. We hope everyone stays healthy and safe!
AMBA DONATION TO ARIZONA COALITION FOR CHANGE
Since May 25, 2020, there have been numerous solidarity statements regarding George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer when Mr. Floyd was clearly not resisting and while he stated multiple times “I can't breathe!”. AMBA's Board and members cannot describe how tired and distraught we are from seeing Mr. Floyd's death, as well as the many acts of systemic violence and racism toward Black and other people of color. Police brutality is just one form of the institutional racism that exists in our community and part of the reason we exist as an organization.
The Arizona Minority Bar Association's mission statement, in part, states that it “was developed to further the interest, education and advancement of racial and ethnic minorities in law-related areas, and to advance the awareness and availability of legal services specifically targeting racial and ethnic minorities and legal issues that impact such community.” We do this through a variety of activities throughout the year, and this year we have decided to make a donation to Arizona Coalition for Change https://www.azc4c.org/ This donation will be made in honor of George Floyd and the countless minorities who have been the victims of police brutality and racism. The Arizona Coalition for Change advocates for lasting progressive public policies in the areas of education; fair elections; civil engagement; criminal justice reform; and leadership development. AMBA believes a contribution to this organization is an important contribution to the safety and success of our diverse community.
Thank you to all that attended our annual banquet
ONGOING ACTIVTIES:
Leadership Institute Needs Mentors (Middle school): Gretchen Shine, founder of the Leadership Institute, is seeking adult mentors either studying to be an attorney, retired or currently practicing, who will spend 15-20 hours with a 7th or 8th grader in a group setting. The hours will be spread over a school year, each session lasting 80 minutes, usually once a month. Mentors will help students with resume writing, mock job interviewing, building a sample semester college budget, helping write a sample college essay for college admission, etc. All sessions are facilitated, materials are provided and session objectives are defined. Please contact Gretchen at [email protected] Resumes are required. Choice of participation at one of two Tucson schools: Safford K-8 in downtown Tucson, or Sierra 2-8 in southwest Tucson.
JUDICIAL PREPARATION PANELS: If you are an AMBA member who is considering applying for a future vacancy on the Pima County Superior Court bench or Federal bench, AMBA strongly suggests you begin working on your application now. AMBA has a judicial appointments committee that can review your applications and/or conduct mock interviews with you to help you prepare for success. Please contact Leticia Marquez at [email protected] or Greta Vietor at [email protected] if interested.
RESTORATION OF RIGHTS PROJECT:Arizona will be come part of a nationwide/statewide attorney network working to restore the voting rights of Arizona and to minimize voter disenfranchisement in this state. Look forward to more information regarding this exciting new project in 2017.
AMBA STUDENT-MENTORING PROGRAM: AMBA initiated a student mentor program allowing lawyers to work with a student while providing total flexibility to accommodate the lawyer's schedule and preferred time commitment. This program allows the attorney anything from a one-time visit to a regularly-designated meeting or a meeting occurring two-to-three times per year. The program also provides students an opportunity to observe lawyers at a court hearing/trial and, preferably, allows the student to visit a law office or other location of the lawyer's choosing. Lawyers will be paired with students from City High School located in downtown Tucson. City High has a diverse student body of which half would be the first in their families to go to college. City High will transport the students to and from the Court or location of the meeting. If you would like to learn more about the opportunity or volunteer, please contact us via the website. Or, sign up for our student newsletter!