Page 12 - Dallas Vol 6 No 2

ASSOCIATION PROFILE
J.L. Turner Legal Association
Pushing Beyond the Limits
J.L. Turner Legal Association 2019 President Erin Nowell sat down with Attorney at Law Magazine to review the history and current goals of the association.
AALM: Is there an interesting story behind the founding of your associa- tion?
Nowell: One of the most inspir- ing things about the J.L. Turner Legal Association is its beginning. On May 4, 1952, African-American lawyers practicing in Dallas met to discuss the issues they continually encoun- tered in their practice. One of the main issues concerned fair treatment by judges in the courtroom. As such, they determined their best options were to be well prepared and to pro- tect the record for appeal, if necessary.
By the end of the meeting, the gentlemen decided to set up an active association with o cers and monthly meetings to be called the Barrister’s Club. is was the beginning of the J.L. Turner Legal Association.
AALM: What is the association’s fo- cus for the year?
Nowell: e association’s main goal for the year is to provide avenues to engage in and promote mentorship. Examples include networking initia- tives to introduce less-experienced lawyers to more seasoned attorneys, joint volunteer e orts so that mem- bers have an opportunity to work with individuals in the community, and even promoting community out-
PRESIDENT ERIN NOWELL
reach programs that are not legally related, but community based, such as At Last! Mentorship of every kind is one of the best ways to achieve our goals of uniting the community from within.
AALM: How frequently does the association o er CLE events? How much do they cost?
Nowell: e association attempts to have CLE o erings at least once a month. e topics vary to address in- terests of individual committees, cur- rent legal issues, or to provide general information, and most are free to at- tend. For instance, the association conducts a Trial Advocacy CLE led by the Honorable Eric Moye and the Honorable Tonya Parker, taking indi- viduals through the various steps of trial with demonstrations from well- known and accomplished minority attorneys. is CLE takes place on the last Tuesday of every other month and is free to any who wish to attend. We also sponsor events put on by other associations, such as the Dallas Mi- nority Attorney Program, as a way of expanding our programming.
AALM: What are some exciting events coming up?
Nowell: Many of JLTLA’s signature events occur in the second-half of the year. e annual L.A. Bedford Lun- cheon, honoring founding member Louis A. Bedford, Jr., will be held at the Belo mansion August 23, 2019. e association’s annual scholarship gala, an event that attracts the entire Dallas legal community, will be held at the Fairmont Hotel November 2, 2019. We’re also still planning the annual Dallas Black Women Lawyer
Sparkler, a luncheon that allows black women lawyers to fellowship and celebrate their achievements in the prior year. People may also feel free to come out to our monthly mem- bership events. We want you to have every opportunity to meet and get to know you!
AALM: If someone wanted to move into a leadership role, what is your rst word of advice?
Nowell: Get involved! We want in- dividuals to shine by doing what they love or focusing on something that fuels their passions. If you have an idea or interest, reach out to the as- sociation. If there is a committee or event that sparks your interest, we’ll make sure you are involved, or we will help you plan an event or CLE or even start a committee to explore your in- terest. By doing so, you become an in- tegral part of the association. You are already demonstrating your ability to lead, and leadership within the asso- ciation will follow.
AALM: Are there any changes the association wants to see in the legal community?
Nowell: We are always working to achieve greater diversity and inclu- sion in the Dallas legal community. We have certainly made strides since 1952, but are nowhere near where we need to be. If you look at the number of diverse partners in majority-owned law rms or the number of African- Americans who govern large public entities that determine the city and county budgets, you will see the dis- parity. is must change, and the as- sociation works to build leaders who will continue to ght for equal repre-
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · DALLAS· VOL. 6 NO. 2 12