Karen Hester Email and Phone Number

The Center for Legal Inclusiveness (CLI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing diversity in the legal profession by actively educating and supporting private and public sector legal organizations in their own individual campaigns to create cultures of inclusion. The Denver-based organization provides valuable resources to help legal employers retain and advance diverse and female attorneys. Many of CLI's innovative programs and initiatives are national models. CLI’s members include law firms, corporate and government law departments, and other professional legal organizations.As CEO, I am responsible for CLI’s day-to-day administration, providing diversity and inclusiveness presentations to CLI members and the public, and driving future programming for the nonprofit.

• As Director of Student Affairs & Diversity, counseled students on academic and personal issues; ensured disability accommodations were met; orchestrated special events, including commencement and orientation• As Director/Associate Director of Career Services, counseled up to 150 students per year on matters related to professional and personal development; advised student organizations.• Conceived and established the Director of Diversity and Inclusion role; collaborated with local, regional and national law firms, as well as University of Kansas Alumni to build awareness and promote diversity programs.• Strategic advisor to law firms and legal employers on incorporating diversity into mission and core values.• Assisted organizations to expand and promote their D/I programs, and develop job opportunities for diverse law school students/graduates.• Created innovative residential summer law camp for area HS students; raised $20K+ in sponsorships and grants.• Active member of Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair and KC Metropolitan Bar Association diversity committees; assisted in the recruitment of 20+ firms to participate in the Legal Job Fair.• Improved diversity networking by developing the School of Law’s 1st Minority Alumni Directory.• Strengthened diversity training by creating and securing funding for the Diversity in the Law speaker series and the Business Case for Diversity program.• Secured sponsorships from 3 law schools and a bar association for a social diversity event for more than 100 law students and legal professionals in Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.• Initiated the Black Female Attorneys networking group, which has grown from 5 to 100 members.• Attended diversity conferences and training programs, including the 2 most recent Wal-Mart Legal Superconferences (1 of only 2 law schools invited) and the NALP Diversity Summit in Chicago, IL.• Created marketing collateral for employers, alumni, and prospective students.

• Practiced law in the areas of elder law, which included: estate planning, disability planning, probate, guardianship, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning and tax planning. • Managed all aspects of daily law firm operations including staffing, filings, client interaction, and case load; ensured that cases were closed appropriately and in compliance with the law when the firm ceased operation.• Nominated “Outstanding Elder Law Attorney” by Southwest Senior, a leading regional newspaper for seniors.• Authored and presented papers for groups including the El Paso County Estate Planning Council, the American Society of Women Accountants, and the National Business Institute.

• Co-authored textbook for Freshman Seminar to better address the unique needs of a diverse student body; trained and supervised instructors and student peer leaders.• Boosted overall GPAs and decreased freshman attrition rate by creating an “early warning” system to identify at-risk students and conduct assessment testing to ensure placement in appropriate level classes.• Taught English as a Second Language course; advised the Black Student Union.• Prepared/submitted reports to ensure compliance with federally funded Title IV student financial aid programs.