By SCOTT R. FORCINO Esq., TNNW Legal Editor
This month I researched and gained exposure to the NACN. The "Home of America's Best and Brightest Attorneys of Color".
The mission of the National Attorney of Color Network ("NACN") is to promote diversity in the legal profession by: (i) providing corporate America and leading law firms with access to the brightest attorneys of color; (ii) creating enhanced employment opportunities for attorneys of color through the power of networking; and (iii) providing an efficient means for the communication of successful diversity strategies in the legal profession.
The NACN was organized by a former African-American partner of a prominent national law firm based in New York City. His commitment to diversity in the legal profession led him to create this network. Based in New York City, the NACN strives to work with existing organizations that are also committed to improving diversity in the legal profession.
Members of NACN search and apply for job openings posted on the NACN website and submit/update their profile regarding their experience and education. Members get e-mail alerts of job openings from companies and law firms. Members are able to meet practicing attorneys at regional and national networking events for law students and attorneys of color. Mentoring of law students of color is possible or students can be mentored by a practicing attorney of color. Attorneys of color share, and are advised of, successful career and diversity strategies and most importantly, access the valuable information provided in the resource centers.
In addition, membership in the NACN also assists law firm associates and partners in their business development efforts by making them more visible to corporate legal departments seeking to identify and hire outside counsel.
As an employment search portal the NACN is exclusively for attorneys and law students of color. The NACN offers a state-of-the-art search engine that permits employers to conduct targeted searches of the candidates in the NACN database based on a host of criteria, including, law school attended; undergraduate school attended; GPA; practice area expertise, number of years of experience; law school rankings, honors and even ethnicity. The searches will produce candidates who possess the qualifications for which the employers are looking. The NACN protects the identity of its members. A member's identity will be released to a potential employer, only if the member expressly authorizes the NACN to do so.
There are events nationwide to allow for the connection of attorneys of color to others in the legal profession. Overall, the NACN is a very important organization for the career advancement of the attorney of color within the legal profession.
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