“May you live in interesting times.”
Whoever first cursed someone this way surely must have been a lawyer (or worked with them). Its pithy, impersonal eloquence is neatly elegant. While it lacks the verbosity for which our profession is renowned, its unobvious negative implications are cooly calculated.
For Middle Eastern, North African and Arab American (“MENA”) members of the legal profession, the interesting times are requiring them to rethink traditional interpretations and applications of established principles like free speech. MENA lawyers and legal professionals have seen their members lose employment for their exercise of their civil rights and their communities targeted solely because of who they are.
In this program, we’ll explore how MENA members of the legal profession are navigating today’s “interesting times” as they pertain to law, advocacy, and professional spaces when addressing issues that some institutions and workplaces are deeming too controversial. Our panel will be exploring the professional risks, legal ramifications, and the role of lawyers in shaping public discourse, particularly when it comes to topics of war, forced displacement, and human rights.
Join us for an examination of how MENA members of the legal profession are coping with, guiding others, and finding their own paths during “interesting times.”
Panelists:
Jousef M. Shkoukani, Associate, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (Moderator)
The program is being offered free of charge to all lawyers and staff for IILP’s Visionary Partners, Partners, and Allies. Unsure if your firm/company supports IILP? Find out here.
The program is open to the public.
Questions/Contact: info@theiilp.com.
