Is the designation of a seat on Bar Council and the Executive Committee a “quota” or a “preference?
No. The Diversity Conference would be treated no differently than the existing three Conferences. The Bar currently affords Bar Council and Executive Committee membership to a designee of the youngest members of the Bar (Young Lawyers Conference), the oldest members of the Bar (Senior Lawyers Conference), and representatives of local bar associations in Virginia (Conference of Local Bar Associations). In contrast, the Diversity Conference designee represents all members of the Bar in good standing who wish to join and participate, without regard to age or membership in a local bar association.
