Stonewall Bar Association 30th Anniversary CLE: Onwards and Upwards

• Speakers, session times and credit hours are subject to change.

• Ethics | Professionalism | Trial Practice

• Presiding:
• Danni M. Leader, LMSW, MSEd, Founding Partner, Leader Law LLC, Decatur, GA

 

• 8:30
• REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST


• 9:00
• INTRODUCTION
• Julia D. Neighbors, ICLE Director, State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA


• 9:05
• Welcome and Program Overview
• Danni M. Leader


• 9:10
• GENDER-AFFIRMING LEGAL CARE FOR YOUTH
• Liz Harding Chao, MPA, Founder and President, Southern Legal Center for Youth, College Park, GA
• Princess Jauan T. Durbin, Interim Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Southern Legal Center for Youth, College Park, GA


• This interactive training equips legal and health professionals with the tools needed to provide trauma-informed, culturally relevant, gender-affirming services to transgender and gender-expansive youth between the ages of 12 and 24. Through storytelling, data, systems analysis, and real-world legal case examples, participants will explore how to disrupt bias, support inclusive legal advocacy, and build toward an equitable future for youth navigating identity, justice, and care. We will unpack barriers faced by LGBTQIA2S+ youth—especially Black and brown youth—and leave with concrete strategies to implement gender-affirming practices in professional settings and beyond.


• 10:10
• BREAK
• 
  10:25
  FAMILY AND END OF LIFE PLANNING AND PRESERVATION FOR THE QUEER COMMUNITY
  Danni M. Leader
  Suzy A. Life, Attorney at Law, Life Love Law, Atlanta, GA
  Hon. Denise D. VanLanduyt, Founder, VanLanduyt Law, LLC, Decatur and Blue Ridge, GA
  
  This session emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive legal documents to protect the unique relationships, assets, and healthcare wishes of LGBTQ+ individuals. The CLE will cover specialized family creation needs including surrogacy and adoption. The session will highlight how adoptions, guardianships, wills, trusts, powers of attorney (financial and healthcare), and advance directives are essential for ensuring that "chosen family" or partners have legal authority over medical decisions, inheritance, and funeral arrangements. It will also cover specific considerations for transgender and non-binary individuals to ensure their gender identity and expression are respected in all matters from childhood to end of life. The CLE will equip legal professionals with the knowledge to draft legally sound documents that address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the queer community, promoting dignity, autonomy, and security in life and death.
   





• 11:55
• LUNCH


• 12:40
• THE STATE OF TRANS GEORGIA
• Tara L. Borelli, Senior Counsel, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., New York, NY
• Nneka Ewulonu, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
• Chanel Haley, CLP, CMA, CPHT, Deputy Director, Georgia Equality, Atlanta, GA


• This session highlights the rapidly evolving and increasingly restrictive landscape on Trans Rights in Georgia. Recent legislation, such as "The Riley Gaines Act," which bans transgender student-athletes from participating in sports teams aligning with their gender identity and restricts restroom and locker room access. The session also addresses laws prohibiting gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and surgeries for minors, with ongoing legislative efforts to expand these bans to puberty blockers and even adult care for state employees and inmates. These laws are met with significant legal challenges and advocacy efforts, with lawsuits frequently filed against the state for discrimination in areas like healthcare coverage. The discussion underscores how these legislative actions impact various aspects of transgender individuals' lives, from healthcare and education to public accommodation and identity document amendments, often creating legal and social hurdles.


• 2:10
• BREAK


• 2:25
• RESISTANCE IS RESILIENCE
• Jeremy P. Burnette, Partner, Akerman LLP, Atlanta, GA
• Septima Riley, LCSW, Clinical Director, youthSpark, Atlanta, GA


• This session focuses on crucial wellness practices for legal professionals, particularly those serving marginalized communities. It emphasizes identifying and preventing compassion fatigue, burnout, and depression, which are heightened risks for individuals regularly exposed to vicarious trauma and systemic injustices. The session provides actionable strategies, including mindfulness-based techniques, self-care routines, and the development of robust support networks. It also delves into understanding the unique cultural contexts and historical struggles that impact the mental well-being of marginalized groups, advocating for culturally responsive and decolonized approaches to mental health. The overall aim is to equip legal professionals with the tools to sustain their well-being and resilience, ensuring they can continue to provide effective and compassionate advocacy while safeguarding their own mental health.


• 3:25
• ADJOURN





 
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