Diversifying the Legal Field Series (Part 1 of 4): Government/Municipal Lawyers Panel Discussion

Panelists:
-Etie-Lee Schaub, City Solicitor - Providence
-Tamera Rocha, RI Supreme Court
-Misty Delgado, DCYF Chief of Staff
-Mary Rose Pellegrino, DOA
-Jenna Giguere, DEM
-Angela Yingling, RI Public Defenders

This panel series brings together attorneys from diverse backgrounds across four distinct areas of legal practice: government and municipal service, academia, the legislature, and the judiciary, to share their personal and professional experiences navigating and shaping the legal field. These four categories represent just a sample of the many paths a legal career can take; the series aims to broaden attorneys' and law students' understanding of the range of career trajectories available within the profession, beyond traditional private practice.

A central purpose of the series is to educate attendees on the diversity of legal career paths while increasing the visibility and representation of underrepresented groups in these areas of practice, including a strong emphasis on the representation of women, who make up most, if not all, of the panelists. Panelists will speak to their experiences as attorneys from a range of backgrounds—including gender, race, ethnicity, and other dimensions of identity—and how those experiences have shaped their paths in government, academia, the legislature, and the judiciary, fields in which certain groups remain underrepresented in leadership and specialized roles.

Each panel features attorney speakers reflecting on how their varied backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences have influenced their approach to legal practice, the challenges they have faced as members of underrepresented groups within the profession, and the strategies they have used to overcome those barriers.

The series begins with the Government/Municipal Panel, followed by panels focused on Academia, the Legislature, and the Judiciary. Panelists will address topics including career obstacles tied to identity, background, or circumstance; pivotal experiences that shaped their professional perspectives; and the evolution of the legal field with respect to representation and inclusion. Discussions will highlight practical, actionable advice for attorneys and law students seeking to advance equity and inclusion within their own workplaces and professional circles, as well as guidance for those exploring similar or alternative career paths within the legal profession.

When: September 29, 2026 — 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual (link to be provided via email prior to event)

(DEI CLE Pending)