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Thomson Reuters celebrates Books for Africa at its annual gala

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Books for Africa held its annual gala this week, and representatives from Thomson Reuters were on hand to celebrate the annual event.

Books For Africa is the largest shipper of books to the African continent. In fact, over the last 12 months alone, the organization has shipped more than 2.6 million books to countries throughout Africa, including computers, e-books and other educational materials.

A proud supporter of the organization, Thomson Reuters has partnered with the Books for Africa Jack Mason Law and Democracy Initiative to donate more than 74 law libraries and educational resources to governments, universities and non-profit organizations across Africa since 2008. In fact, support of the program is a key initiative in Thomson Reuters support for the global rule of law.

Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations, addressed the crowd and introduced the keynote speaker Her Excellency Ambassador Oliver Wonekha, Ambassador of Uganda to the United States.

“Books for Africa speaks so loudly,” she said. “I’ve been [in the U.S.] for two years now – I’ve never lived off the continent of Africa before – and I see literally everybody, old, young, babies, either with an iPhone, iPad…and I know they are advanced technology. But to both children and adults in Africa a book is still so important, and yet, not easily accessible to everyone who would like to have one. The children who are in school, in Uganda for example…where are the books? They aren’t there.”

Ambassador Wonekha and the other assembled speakers made a humble appeal to those in attendance that while Books for Africa and other similar programs are making an impact, more needs to be done to give the people of Africa the tools they need to become independent and turn away from violence, or worse, extremism. In fact, Donald Teitelbaum, deputy assistant secretary for East African Affairs, noted that a children’s book about ducks is perhaps a better ambassador for the children of Africa than he could be.

It was this idea that Ambassador Wonekha hit upon several times to encourage the support of those in attendance, bluntly adding, “When I was learning teaching methods in a third world country, and teaching science, we didn’t have a laboratory…and I was taught if you don’t have the real apparatus that you need, you improvise. Can I hear from this room how you improvise [without] a book?”

 


Sharon Sayles Belton and Mahesh Rengaswamy discuss global access to justice

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Thomson Reuters Court Management Solutions and its lead solution, C-Track, has changed the way courts and their justice partners access the justice system, but how can this offering impact courts on a global scale?

Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, spoke with Mahesh Rengaswamy, senior director, Global Justice Programs at Thomson Reuters, on Thomson Reuters Court Management Systems and their impact on global access to justice and the global rule of law.

Thomson Reuters Celebrates Books for Africa at Annual Fundraiser

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Last week, Kenya’s ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Njeru Githae, addressed a capacity crowd Thursday as the keynote speaker at the Books for Africa annual fundraising luncheon at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul, sponsored by Thomson Reuters.

Introduced by Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations for Thomson Reuters, Ambassador Githae – who earned a law degree from the Kenya School of Law – stressed the importance of education to the development of his country and emphasized how Kenya is keenly aware of its educational needs both structurally and materially.

“You just don’t know the difference these 1.8 million books meant to students in Kenya,” he said, citing the fact that since 1988, Kenya has been one of the top recipients of the more than 34 million books donated by Books for Africa.

During his own days as a school child in Kenya, Githae shared one text book among 10 students. “Kenya still has a lack of teachers, teaching materials and text books – for curriculum and pleasure,” he said. His country today also faces the continuous challenge of violence and terrorist extremism. “Education is the bulwark against this violence and extremism,” he said.

Githae explained that BFA has helped build opportunity in Kenya but even more books are needed. “The donation of books to children is huge. Please know that whatever your donation is to Books for Africa, it benefits the children there.”

The luncheon also featured returned Peace Corp volunteer, Anna Nathanson, who helped stock and open a library in Camaroon, with books donated through Books for Africa. Tom Warth, founder of Books for Africa, gave the closing remarks, citing that of the one billion people in Africa, half are children. “We’ve got to do more. A child growing up and never touching a book is a terrible thing.”

This post was written by Juliana Bryarly, a member of the Thomson Reuters Legal communications team.

 

 

Sharon Sayles Belton and Trends from the 2016 National Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference

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The National Sheriffs’ Association is meeting in Minneapolis this week for their Annual Conference, and Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affair & Community Relations with Thomson Reuters, joined us from the show floor to tell us about the trends and topics that have attendees talking this year.

Watch our video with Sharon below, and stay tuned to Legal Current as we recap this other trade shows and industry events throughout the year.

 

Thomson Reuters Hosts First Public-Private Partnership Summit

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Last week, Thomson Reuters hosted the first Public-Private Partnership Summit at the newly-minted US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Hosted by the Legal Executive Institute, Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government and Community Affairs with Thomson Reuters, served as emcee at the day-long event which included domain experts from law enforcement, the banking and finance sectors and Thomson Reuters. Topics discussed during the Summit included anti-money laundering, threat prevention and more.

Sharon Sayles Belton with Sgt. Gary Schuelke of the San Bernardino Police Department and Daani Svonkin of Thomson Reuters

Sharon Sayles Belton with Sgt. Gary Schuelke of the San Bernardino Police Department and Daani Svonkin of Thomson Reuters

“Thomson Reuters continues to work in collaboration with multiple partners to share and connect relevant information as well as hosting events and creating working groups to educate the public and work collaboratively equipping organizations with needed resources,” Sayles Belton noted, referencing Thomson Reuters involvement with the Digital Economy Task Force.

The Summit marked Thomson Reuters continued commitment to partner with customers, including those in the corporate and government sectors, to help confront security challenges both home and abroad, as noted by the San Bernardino Police Department, recipient of the 2015 Everyday Heroes award.

For a quick-look at the event, please watch the video here:

Looking back at a Year of Support for Lawyers Without Borders

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For more than 10 years, Thomson Reuters has collaborated with Lawyers Without Borders (LWOB) to provide legal education to those in the developing world. In the early years, support consisted of in-kind print for their training programs, it has since evolved to include more robust and sustainable programs, including eLearning and access to Thomson Reuters on-line platform. These efforts have enabled LWOB to expand their outreach and increase their impact.

Last year LWOB delivered education and training programs on human trafficking, wildlife crime and corruption to lawyers and judges in several African countries last year using these new tools. When the crisis and challenges of Ebola and terrorism threatened to disrupt scheduled training, this new program delivery model ensured that the training could proceed as scheduled. LWOB training programs for 2017 are under development, and Thomson Reuters resources and services will be tapped to ensure they reached their intended audience and are retrievable as needed.

We are proud to have played an active role in helping LWOB deliver their programs and services to government officials and the legal community in Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania. To see a highlight reel of these LWOB programs, please click the link below .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIitgjXPfbE

This post was written by Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters. 

New Podcast Series on Government: For Public Consumption

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Legal Current is proud to present a new podcast series: For Public Consumption.

Hosted by Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, this podcast series examines issues that impact government, its services and the people it serves.

In this first installment, Sharon interviews Sally Heyman, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for the 4th District, on the mental health crisis, its impact on our judicial and correctional systems, and an innovative new approach in Miami-Dade County that may reduce costs to taxpayers while improving care for the mentally ill who enter the judicial and correctional systems.

To listen, click on the built-in audio player below, or download and listen later by right click here. Or you can subscribe to Legal Current podcasts on iTunes.

And check back for future episodes of For Public Consumption on Legal Current.

 

Sharon Sayles Belton Honored with Bronze Bust at Minneapolis City Hall

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There were close to 300 people on hand to witness the unveiling of a bronze bust statue honoring the first woman and first black mayor of Minneapolis, Sharon Sayles Belton. The ceremony was held at Minneapolis City Hall, and the third and fourth floors of its atrium were packed with friends, admirers and colleagues.

Sharon Sayles Belton and sculptor Ed Dwight.

Sharon Sayles Belton and sculptor Ed Dwight.

Renowned African America bronze sculptor, Ed Dwight, whose more than 100 public art commissions have include Rosa Parks, Hank Aaron and Congressman Mickey Leland, was commissioned to create the bronze bust of the former mayor and was on hand for the unveiling.

Sayles Belton, who is today vice president of Government Affairs & Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, grew up in St. Paul and Minneapolis. She graduated from Minneapolis Central High School and went to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. Sayles Belton served as a Minneapolis City Council member from the Eighth Ward for 10 years before being elected mayor of Minneapolis, serving from 1994 to 2001. Mayor Sayles Belton is credited with stabilizing neighborhoods during a time of racial tension, while re-energizing the city’s downtown.

Some of her many accomplishments include urban renewal and vitality and increased visibility of the arts. During her term, Minneapolis renovated the historic theaters on Hennepin Avenue, creating a venue for national theatrical and musical productions. She also led efforts to revitalize the neglected central riverfront and connected Minneapolis with the Mississippi River, transforming the area into a vibrant, diverse and jubilant community.

During her remarks, Sayles Belton looked back upon her upbringing and how that had inspired her career in public service.

“My family taught me the importance of community. They taught me that there was no room on the sidelines and they inspired me to believe in myself and to see the good in the world,” she said. “There was a lot of work to do and we partnered with sage elected and appointed officials, captains of industry, philanthropist, academicians, faith leaders, advocates, activist and our city’s youth. We were successful because we focused more on getting the job done rather than who got the credit.”

Sharon Sayles Belton Bust.

Sharon Sayles Belton Bust.

The bust will remain on display in the Minneapolis City Hall atrium, just outside the Office of The City Council. Below the bust is a plaque quoting Sayles Belton that reads: “Our responsibility is to be good stewards of the public trust and to partner with the citizens of Minneapolis to improve the quality of life for all.”

In closing, Sayles Belton reflected on a career of bringing people and organizations together to overcome obstacles and achieve significant outcomes. “I hope that this bust will be a reminder to people that a vision can become a reality. When we work together we can get more done than when we work alone.”

Today, in her role as vice president of Government Affairs & Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, Sayles Belton directs government affairs activities, focusing on key issues that impact Thomson Reuters, its customers and employees, and leads the business’s community outreach efforts.

This post was written by Charles R. Bradley Jr., senior publishing coordinator at Thomson Reuters and a member of Thomson Reuters Eagan Black Employee Network.


For Public Consumption Episode 2: An Interview with Diana White on the Future of the Legal Services Corporation

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Earlier this spring, the Trump Administration released its full 2018 budget proposal, which outlined deep cuts, and even outright eliminations, of some agencies.

Among the 19 agencies on the chopping block is the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent nonprofit established by Congress to support low-income Americans with civil legal aid. While the budget for 2017 kept funding in place for LSC to the tune of $385 million, the expected budget showdown for 2018 has many legal aid organizations concerned for the future, including Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF) in Chicago.

In the latest installment of our podcast series, For Public Consumption, host Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, speaks with Diana White, former executive director of LAF, about the organization’s mission, funding challenges and what’s next should federal funds disappear.

To listen, click on the built-in audio player below, or download and listen later by right click here. Or you can subscribe to Legal Current podcasts on iTunes.

And check back for future episodes of For Public Consumption on Legal Current.

Judge Lorna G. Schofield Receives 2017 Liberty Achievement Award

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At the 2017 American Bar Association (ABA) annual meeting in New York City, the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) presented its annual Liberty Achievement Award to Judge Lorna G. Schofield of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The award recognizes lawyers and judges who take a leadership role by demonstrating that they have actively promoted diversity in the legal profession.

Schofield was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed on Dec. 13, 2012, by a unanimous U.S. Senate vote. Upon induction, she became the first Filipino-American Article III judge.

Schofield is a graduate of the New York University School of Law (1981). After law school, she became an associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in New York representing clients in commercial and civil litigation, as well as transactional matters. She later served as an assistant U.S. attorney under New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and investigated and tried criminal cases, including white collar fraud, international arms sales and terrorism from 1984-88. Schofield returned to private practice in 1988, becoming a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton in 1991 and litigating complex commercial disputes. She was one of six women partners and the only Asian partner.

Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government Affairs & Community Relations for Thomson Reuters, presented the award and said, “Judge Schofield’s path to the bench has shown desire to succeed, the confidence to seize opportunity and, the fortitude to be “first”.  She praised Judge Schofield’s many accomplishments, her commitment to mentor young people just entering the law, and how – from her vaulted position on the bench – she shines a light on the importance of diversity.

Judge Schofield, in accepting the award, provided a tribute to her mother, an immigrant from the Philippines during the World War II era, who passed away during her college years.

“It would have thrilled her that I was American, that I could do something that served the justice system… that was public-spirited.”

Judge Schofield proceeded to share her views that illustrate how she came to be selected for the honor.  “Diversity on the bench is so important because it sends the message to everyone who participates in our justice system [lawyers, litigants, defendants, jurors]… that all different kinds of people, different in the ways that they are, lead our system of justice so that it can be fair for all.”

The ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, which has over 20,000 members and more than 30 general committees, unites plaintiff, defense, insurance and corporate counsel to advance the civil justice system.

Thomson Reuters has sponsored the TIPS annual Liberty Achievement Award since its inception in 2008.

To see past TIPS Liberty Achievement Award winners, click here.

 

This post was written by Heather Fox, senior specialist with Thomson Reuters Communications team.

FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION EPISODE 3: AN INTERVIEW WITH DREW SCHAFFER ON LEGAL AID

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As Congress continues its budget negotiations, concerns are rising about the potential on federal support of legal aid for people with low incomes, seniors, people with disabilities, and others who lack ready access to legal services.

In this episode of For Public Consumption, Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government Affairs for Thomson Reuters, talks with Drew Schaffer, executive director of Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.

To listen, click here (or to download and listen later, right-click)

This is a continued discussion from the previous episode where Sharon spoke with Diana White, former executive director of Legal Assistance Foundation in Chicago, about the organization’s mission, funding challenges and what’s next should federal funds disappear. You can find that episode here.

Sharon Sayles Belton and Mahesh Rengaswamy discuss global access to justice

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0

Thomson Reuters Court Management Solutions and its lead solution, C-Track, has changed the way courts and their justice partners access the justice system, but how can this offering impact courts on a global scale?

Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, spoke with Mahesh Rengaswamy, senior director, Global Justice Programs at Thomson Reuters, on Thomson Reuters Court Management Systems and their impact on global access to justice and the global rule of law.

Thomson Reuters Celebrates Books for Africa at Annual Fundraiser

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Last week, Kenya’s ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Njeru Githae, addressed a capacity crowd Thursday as the keynote speaker at the Books for Africa annual fundraising luncheon at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul, sponsored by Thomson Reuters.

Introduced by Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations for Thomson Reuters, Ambassador Githae – who earned a law degree from the Kenya School of Law – stressed the importance of education to the development of his country and emphasized how Kenya is keenly aware of its educational needs both structurally and materially.

“You just don’t know the difference these 1.8 million books meant to students in Kenya,” he said, citing the fact that since 1988, Kenya has been one of the top recipients of the more than 34 million books donated by Books for Africa.

During his own days as a school child in Kenya, Githae shared one text book among 10 students. “Kenya still has a lack of teachers, teaching materials and text books – for curriculum and pleasure,” he said. His country today also faces the continuous challenge of violence and terrorist extremism. “Education is the bulwark against this violence and extremism,” he said.

Githae explained that BFA has helped build opportunity in Kenya but even more books are needed. “The donation of books to children is huge. Please know that whatever your donation is to Books for Africa, it benefits the children there.”

The luncheon also featured returned Peace Corp volunteer, Anna Nathanson, who helped stock and open a library in Camaroon, with books donated through Books for Africa. Tom Warth, founder of Books for Africa, gave the closing remarks, citing that of the one billion people in Africa, half are children. “We’ve got to do more. A child growing up and never touching a book is a terrible thing.”

This post was written by Juliana Bryarly, a member of the Thomson Reuters Legal communications team.

 

 

Sharon Sayles Belton and Trends from the 2016 National Sheriffs’ Association Annual Conference

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0

The National Sheriffs’ Association is meeting in Minneapolis this week for their Annual Conference, and Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affair & Community Relations with Thomson Reuters, joined us from the show floor to tell us about the trends and topics that have attendees talking this year.

Watch our video with Sharon below, and stay tuned to Legal Current as we recap this other trade shows and industry events throughout the year.

 

Thomson Reuters Hosts First Public-Private Partnership Summit

0
0

Last week, Thomson Reuters hosted the first Public-Private Partnership Summit at the newly-minted US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

Hosted by the Legal Executive Institute, Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government and Community Affairs with Thomson Reuters, served as emcee at the day-long event which included domain experts from law enforcement, the banking and finance sectors and Thomson Reuters. Topics discussed during the Summit included anti-money laundering, threat prevention and more.

Sharon Sayles Belton with Sgt. Gary Schuelke of the San Bernardino Police Department and Daani Svonkin of Thomson Reuters

Sharon Sayles Belton with Sgt. Gary Schuelke of the San Bernardino Police Department and Daani Svonkin of Thomson Reuters

“Thomson Reuters continues to work in collaboration with multiple partners to share and connect relevant information as well as hosting events and creating working groups to educate the public and work collaboratively equipping organizations with needed resources,” Sayles Belton noted, referencing Thomson Reuters involvement with the Digital Economy Task Force.

The Summit marked Thomson Reuters continued commitment to partner with customers, including those in the corporate and government sectors, to help confront security challenges both home and abroad, as noted by the San Bernardino Police Department, recipient of the 2015 Everyday Heroes award.

For a quick-look at the event, please watch the video here:


Looking back at a Year of Support for Lawyers Without Borders

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0

For more than 10 years, Thomson Reuters has collaborated with Lawyers Without Borders (LWOB) to provide legal education to those in the developing world. In the early years, support consisted of in-kind print for their training programs, it has since evolved to include more robust and sustainable programs, including eLearning and access to Thomson Reuters on-line platform. These efforts have enabled LWOB to expand their outreach and increase their impact.

Last year LWOB delivered education and training programs on human trafficking, wildlife crime and corruption to lawyers and judges in several African countries last year using these new tools. When the crisis and challenges of Ebola and terrorism threatened to disrupt scheduled training, this new program delivery model ensured that the training could proceed as scheduled. LWOB training programs for 2017 are under development, and Thomson Reuters resources and services will be tapped to ensure they reached their intended audience and are retrievable as needed.

We are proud to have played an active role in helping LWOB deliver their programs and services to government officials and the legal community in Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania. To see a highlight reel of these LWOB programs, please click the link below .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIitgjXPfbE

This post was written by Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters. 

New Podcast Series on Government: For Public Consumption

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0

Legal Current is proud to present a new podcast series: For Public Consumption.

Hosted by Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, this podcast series examines issues that impact government, its services and the people it serves.

In this first installment, Sharon interviews Sally Heyman, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for the 4th District, on the mental health crisis, its impact on our judicial and correctional systems, and an innovative new approach in Miami-Dade County that may reduce costs to taxpayers while improving care for the mentally ill who enter the judicial and correctional systems.

To listen, click on the built-in audio player below, or download and listen later by right click here. Or you can subscribe to Legal Current podcasts on iTunes.

And check back for future episodes of For Public Consumption on Legal Current.

 

Sharon Sayles Belton Honored with Bronze Bust at Minneapolis City Hall

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0

There were close to 300 people on hand to witness the unveiling of a bronze bust statue honoring the first woman and first black mayor of Minneapolis, Sharon Sayles Belton. The ceremony was held at Minneapolis City Hall, and the third and fourth floors of its atrium were packed with friends, admirers and colleagues.

Sharon Sayles Belton and sculptor Ed Dwight.

Sharon Sayles Belton and sculptor Ed Dwight.

Renowned African America bronze sculptor, Ed Dwight, whose more than 100 public art commissions have include Rosa Parks, Hank Aaron and Congressman Mickey Leland, was commissioned to create the bronze bust of the former mayor and was on hand for the unveiling.

Sayles Belton, who is today vice president of Government Affairs & Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, grew up in St. Paul and Minneapolis. She graduated from Minneapolis Central High School and went to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. Sayles Belton served as a Minneapolis City Council member from the Eighth Ward for 10 years before being elected mayor of Minneapolis, serving from 1994 to 2001. Mayor Sayles Belton is credited with stabilizing neighborhoods during a time of racial tension, while re-energizing the city’s downtown.

Some of her many accomplishments include urban renewal and vitality and increased visibility of the arts. During her term, Minneapolis renovated the historic theaters on Hennepin Avenue, creating a venue for national theatrical and musical productions. She also led efforts to revitalize the neglected central riverfront and connected Minneapolis with the Mississippi River, transforming the area into a vibrant, diverse and jubilant community.

During her remarks, Sayles Belton looked back upon her upbringing and how that had inspired her career in public service.

“My family taught me the importance of community. They taught me that there was no room on the sidelines and they inspired me to believe in myself and to see the good in the world,” she said. “There was a lot of work to do and we partnered with sage elected and appointed officials, captains of industry, philanthropist, academicians, faith leaders, advocates, activist and our city’s youth. We were successful because we focused more on getting the job done rather than who got the credit.”

Sharon Sayles Belton Bust.

Sharon Sayles Belton Bust.

The bust will remain on display in the Minneapolis City Hall atrium, just outside the Office of The City Council. Below the bust is a plaque quoting Sayles Belton that reads: “Our responsibility is to be good stewards of the public trust and to partner with the citizens of Minneapolis to improve the quality of life for all.”

In closing, Sayles Belton reflected on a career of bringing people and organizations together to overcome obstacles and achieve significant outcomes. “I hope that this bust will be a reminder to people that a vision can become a reality. When we work together we can get more done than when we work alone.”

Today, in her role as vice president of Government Affairs & Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, Sayles Belton directs government affairs activities, focusing on key issues that impact Thomson Reuters, its customers and employees, and leads the business’s community outreach efforts.

This post was written by Charles R. Bradley Jr., senior publishing coordinator at Thomson Reuters and a member of Thomson Reuters Eagan Black Employee Network.

For Public Consumption Episode 2: An Interview with Diana White on the Future of the Legal Services Corporation

0
0

Earlier this spring, the Trump Administration released its full 2018 budget proposal, which outlined deep cuts, and even outright eliminations, of some agencies.

Among the 19 agencies on the chopping block is the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent nonprofit established by Congress to support low-income Americans with civil legal aid. While the budget for 2017 kept funding in place for LSC to the tune of $385 million, the expected budget showdown for 2018 has many legal aid organizations concerned for the future, including Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF) in Chicago.

In the latest installment of our podcast series, For Public Consumption, host Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president, Government Affairs and Community Relations at Thomson Reuters, speaks with Diana White, former executive director of LAF, about the organization’s mission, funding challenges and what’s next should federal funds disappear.

To listen, click on the built-in audio player below, or download and listen later by right click here. Or you can subscribe to Legal Current podcasts on iTunes.

And check back for future episodes of For Public Consumption on Legal Current.

Judge Lorna G. Schofield Receives 2017 Liberty Achievement Award

0
0

At the 2017 American Bar Association (ABA) annual meeting in New York City, the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) presented its annual Liberty Achievement Award to Judge Lorna G. Schofield of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The award recognizes lawyers and judges who take a leadership role by demonstrating that they have actively promoted diversity in the legal profession.

Schofield was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed on Dec. 13, 2012, by a unanimous U.S. Senate vote. Upon induction, she became the first Filipino-American Article III judge.

Schofield is a graduate of the New York University School of Law (1981). After law school, she became an associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in New York representing clients in commercial and civil litigation, as well as transactional matters. She later served as an assistant U.S. attorney under New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and investigated and tried criminal cases, including white collar fraud, international arms sales and terrorism from 1984-88. Schofield returned to private practice in 1988, becoming a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton in 1991 and litigating complex commercial disputes. She was one of six women partners and the only Asian partner.

Sharon Sayles Belton, vice president of Government Affairs & Community Relations for Thomson Reuters, presented the award and said, “Judge Schofield’s path to the bench has shown desire to succeed, the confidence to seize opportunity and, the fortitude to be “first”.  She praised Judge Schofield’s many accomplishments, her commitment to mentor young people just entering the law, and how – from her vaulted position on the bench – she shines a light on the importance of diversity.

Judge Schofield, in accepting the award, provided a tribute to her mother, an immigrant from the Philippines during the World War II era, who passed away during her college years.

“It would have thrilled her that I was American, that I could do something that served the justice system… that was public-spirited.”

Judge Schofield proceeded to share her views that illustrate how she came to be selected for the honor.  “Diversity on the bench is so important because it sends the message to everyone who participates in our justice system [lawyers, litigants, defendants, jurors]… that all different kinds of people, different in the ways that they are, lead our system of justice so that it can be fair for all.”

The ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, which has over 20,000 members and more than 30 general committees, unites plaintiff, defense, insurance and corporate counsel to advance the civil justice system.

Thomson Reuters has sponsored the TIPS annual Liberty Achievement Award since its inception in 2008.

To see past TIPS Liberty Achievement Award winners, click here.

 

This post was written by Heather Fox, senior specialist with Thomson Reuters Communications team.

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