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The Association of Corporate Counsel Names the “Outstanding Chapters of the Year”
Member Services Recognized During ACC’s 2009 Annual Meeting in Boston
Posted: Oct 28, 2009
October 28, 2009 (Washington, D.C.) – This past week, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) presented its “Outstanding Chapter of the Year” Awards during its Annual Meeting in Boston, MA. The award recognizes those ACC chapters that “have demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to providing opportunities for member involvement and hosting outstanding educational programs and unique projects.” This year’s winners, in their respective categories, were the Southwest Ohio Chapter (less than 250 members category), the Dallas Ft. Worth Chapter (250–800 members category), and the Southern California Area (ACCA-SoCal) and Washington Metropolitan Area (WMACCA) Chapters (801+ members category).
The ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter (http://southwestohio.acc.com) serves the professional needs of nearly 250 in-house in 109 corporations in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton area, and Northern Kentucky. The Chapter hosted several new initiatives and special programs this year, including a three-hour diversity CLE called “A Corporate Women Lawyer’s Roundtable & Interactive Networking Event,” and developed an intern program with the University of Cincinnati Corporate Law Center, which partners an ACC member with a UC law student during the summer. The Chapter also developed a career transition resource list for its members to address the increasing numbers of in-house counsel who are between jobs. The document contains links for job posting and a list of websites offering tools and instructions for job seekers.
The Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter (http://dallasfortworth.acc.com) represents approximately 618 in-house counsel to more than 327 corporations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region. The application theme, Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter—Setting the Trend, held true in the Chapter’s educational efforts during the contest year. The Chapter instituted its “In-Sight Series,” tasking sponsors and its Chapter leadership to include in- house counsel on virtually all CLE programs. This resulted in more than 20 distinguished GCs serving on the panels at their events! In addition to CLE/legal skills training, the Chapter focused on career development, including its annual CLO/GC panel presentation, where high-profile GCs discussed pathways to the top. To support its community, the Chapter awarded $14,000 in scholarships to students at three area law schools, which allow students to provide legal services to the poor and disadvantaged through local pro bono agencies. In addition, the Chapter led the charge for the first Texas statewide compensation survey, providing valuable data to the Texas legal community.
The Southern California (SoCal) Chapter (http://socal.acc.com) serves the professional needs of nearly 1,450 in-house counsel to 707 corporations in the Southern California region. Among the Chapter’s many accomplishments, they presented more than 50 educational programs, networking roundtable luncheons, and Double HeadersTM, which combine continuing legal education programs in sporting venues. The Chapter hosted more than 10 diversity, pro bono, and social events, and hosted its Annual Charity Golf Classic. Chapter events raised $100,000 in proceeds for local charitable organizations. The Chapter also continued its marquee events such as its Annual In-house Counsel Conference, and diversity award, which honors a person, firm or organization’s contributions to diversity in the Southern California legal community. The Chapter also hosted its the first ever Boston University Mini-MBA on the West Coast and file amicus briefs on behalf of its members. The Chapter’s Pro Bono Committee held impressive community-serving events this year, including “Adoption Day—Make a Difference in a Family’s Life.” During the program, volunteer attorneys were paired with families looking to adopt children in the foster care system. Additionally, each year, the SoCal Chapter holds its Annual Gala Dinner, and in 2009, Former President Bill Clinton served as the keynote speaker. Previous Gala Dinner speakers have included former President George H.W. Bush, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright and former Vice President Al Gore.
With more than 1,700 in-house counsel serving 751 corporations in Washington, D.C., the Commonwealth of Virginia and suburban Maryland, the WMACCA Chapter (http://wmacca.acc.com) held a chapter-record 110 CLEs this contest period, averaging seven CLEs a month and attracting more than 100 members at some. Events had a heavy focus on corporate and securities, employment and labor, global, government, intellectual property, litigation, and non-profit issues. WMACCA has also developed a successful general counsel only breakfast club that meets monthly and a career development series, featuring CLE programs to help members with job searches, resume writing, and other skills. In its sixth year, the Chapter’s Corporate Scholars Program provides law students with an opportunity to work in in-house legal departments over the summer and with the launch of the it’s new Street Law’s Corporate Diversity Pipeline program, members co-taught two sections of a law class at Park View High School, where students engaged in mock trials and other activities.
About ACCThe ACC Southwest Ohio Chapter (http://southwestohio.acc.com) serves the professional needs of nearly 250 in-house in 109 corporations in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton area, and Northern Kentucky. The Chapter hosted several new initiatives and special programs this year, including a three-hour diversity CLE called “A Corporate Women Lawyer’s Roundtable & Interactive Networking Event,” and developed an intern program with the University of Cincinnati Corporate Law Center, which partners an ACC member with a UC law student during the summer. The Chapter also developed a career transition resource list for its members to address the increasing numbers of in-house counsel who are between jobs. The document contains links for job posting and a list of websites offering tools and instructions for job seekers.
The Dallas-Ft. Worth Chapter (http://dallasfortworth.acc.com) represents approximately 618 in-house counsel to more than 327 corporations in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region. The application theme, Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter—Setting the Trend, held true in the Chapter’s educational efforts during the contest year. The Chapter instituted its “In-Sight Series,” tasking sponsors and its Chapter leadership to include in- house counsel on virtually all CLE programs. This resulted in more than 20 distinguished GCs serving on the panels at their events! In addition to CLE/legal skills training, the Chapter focused on career development, including its annual CLO/GC panel presentation, where high-profile GCs discussed pathways to the top. To support its community, the Chapter awarded $14,000 in scholarships to students at three area law schools, which allow students to provide legal services to the poor and disadvantaged through local pro bono agencies. In addition, the Chapter led the charge for the first Texas statewide compensation survey, providing valuable data to the Texas legal community.
The Southern California (SoCal) Chapter (http://socal.acc.com) serves the professional needs of nearly 1,450 in-house counsel to 707 corporations in the Southern California region. Among the Chapter’s many accomplishments, they presented more than 50 educational programs, networking roundtable luncheons, and Double HeadersTM, which combine continuing legal education programs in sporting venues. The Chapter hosted more than 10 diversity, pro bono, and social events, and hosted its Annual Charity Golf Classic. Chapter events raised $100,000 in proceeds for local charitable organizations. The Chapter also continued its marquee events such as its Annual In-house Counsel Conference, and diversity award, which honors a person, firm or organization’s contributions to diversity in the Southern California legal community. The Chapter also hosted its the first ever Boston University Mini-MBA on the West Coast and file amicus briefs on behalf of its members. The Chapter’s Pro Bono Committee held impressive community-serving events this year, including “Adoption Day—Make a Difference in a Family’s Life.” During the program, volunteer attorneys were paired with families looking to adopt children in the foster care system. Additionally, each year, the SoCal Chapter holds its Annual Gala Dinner, and in 2009, Former President Bill Clinton served as the keynote speaker. Previous Gala Dinner speakers have included former President George H.W. Bush, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright and former Vice President Al Gore.
With more than 1,700 in-house counsel serving 751 corporations in Washington, D.C., the Commonwealth of Virginia and suburban Maryland, the WMACCA Chapter (http://wmacca.acc.com) held a chapter-record 110 CLEs this contest period, averaging seven CLEs a month and attracting more than 100 members at some. Events had a heavy focus on corporate and securities, employment and labor, global, government, intellectual property, litigation, and non-profit issues. WMACCA has also developed a successful general counsel only breakfast club that meets monthly and a career development series, featuring CLE programs to help members with job searches, resume writing, and other skills. In its sixth year, the Chapter’s Corporate Scholars Program provides law students with an opportunity to work in in-house legal departments over the summer and with the launch of the it’s new Street Law’s Corporate Diversity Pipeline program, members co-taught two sections of a law class at Park View High School, where students engaged in mock trials and other activities.
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is the world’s largest organization serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations and other private-sector organizations around the globe. ACC promotes the common interests of its members, provides resources to help save time, money and effort, contributes to their continuing education and provides a voice on issues of global importance. With more than 25,000 members in over 70 countries, employed by over 10,000 organizations, ACC's community connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.®
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