Michele L. Bendekovic
Michele Bendekovic is the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Bass, Berry & Sims. In this role she is responsible for assisting firm leadership and attorneys in establishing a diverse and inclusive team in order to provide firm clients with the highest quality of work and service. She leads the firm’s diversity and entry level hiring programs and will focus on new pipeline initiatives for long-term recruiting in addition to supporting the firm’s affinity groups and their initiatives. Michele will also be responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic plan around diversity and inclusion goals.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Michele was the Director of Recruiting and Professional Development at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Morgantown, West Virginia. In 2016, Michele was the recipient of the Richard Pearson Award for Professional Development, awarded by the Professional Development Consortium for demonstration of an innovative spirit, a demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring, and a passionate, life-long love of learning.
Memberships
National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
- Annual Education Conference Planning Committee (2018)
- Nominating Committee (2016)
- Professional Development Institute Planning Committee (2016)
- Long Range Strategic Planning Committee (2015); Membership Expansion Working Group — Chair
- Professional Development Section, Chair (2010); Professional Development and Education Programming Advisory Group
- Recruiting Section
- Experienced Professionals Section
- Publication Advisory Group (2008-2011)
- Attrition Working Group (2008-2009)
- Liaison to the ABA Law Practice Division (2013-2014)
- Liaison to the Professional Development Consortium (2012-2014)
Professional Development Consortium (PDC) — Board Member; Membership and Nominating Committees, Chair; 2010 PDC Annual Conference, Planning Chair
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Hotshot Professional Development Advisory Board
Lex Mundi Professional Development Committee
National Legal Mentoring Consortium
Talent Management Roundtable for Mid-Sized Law Firms
Nashville Public Library — Volunteer
Additional News & Insights
Presentations:
- “Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession,” Lawyers’ Association for Women – Marion Griffin Chapter (January 2018)
- “A Cure for the Summertime Blues: Creating Engaging Learning Opportunities for Your Summer Associates,” and “Best Orientation Ever! Getting Your New Hires Up and Running, Integrated … and Profitable in Record Time,” Professional Development Institute (November-December 2017)
- “Innovating Talent Management in Law Firms: Innovation in Legal Education Through Collaboration Between Law School and Law Firms,” NALP Webinar Series (October 2017)
- “Tales (Not Tails!) from Veteran Cat Herders,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2017)
- “10 Career Hacks that will Change Your Life! (Okay, Just Great PD Advice from PD Pros),” and “No More Random Acts of Training – Time to Take Your Training to the Next Level,” Professional Development Institute (December 2016)
- “You Have to Collaborate to Innovate” and “Right Hand Meets Left Hand: PD Initiatives Across Schools and Employers,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2016)
- “No Matter How You Slice It: Law Schools and Employer Expectations in Professional Development Programming” and “Get a Grip on Leadership! Better People Management (Up, Down and All Around),” Professional Development Institute (December 2015)
- “Train the Trainers? How About Parlay Your Partners! – Advance Course,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2015)
- “Mid-Levels Need Training, Too,” and “In Search of the Catalyst for Change: Are Competencies the Answer to Innovating Legal Practice?” Professional Development Institute (December 2014)
- “PD 201: Advancing Your Skills as a Mid-Level PD Professional,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2014)
- “How Legal Educators Are Shaping the Future of the Profession – Challenges, Triumphs and Reflections from Around the World,” Professional Development Institute (December 2013)
- “Hot Topics in PD,” NALP Annual Education Conference (April 2013)
- “Competencies and Evaluations 101” and “Building a Culture of Learning: How to Design and Implement Lawyer Training Programs,” Newer Professionals Forum (February 2013)
- “Can You Really Teach ‘Old’ Partners ‘New’ Tricks” and “Teach Your Associates Well,” Professional Development Institute (December 2012)
Publications:
- “Managing Your Team – Helpful Hints from a Director Who is Always Learning How to Be a Better Manager,” PD Quarterly (August 2016)
- “Right Hand Meet Left Hand: PD Initiatives Across Schools and Employers,” NALP Bulletin (June 2016)
- “Innovating Talent Management in Law Firms, Chapter 14,” Innovation in Legal Education Through Collaboration Between Law Schools and Law Firms, NALP publication (2016)
- “Survivors – Class of 2013,” NALP Bulletin (October 2013)
- “Reply to Law Schools from Law Firms: What Professional Development Skills Do We Expect Law School Graduates to Have at Entry Level?” NALP Bulletin (January 2013)
- “Highlights from the PDC Annual Summer Conference,” NALP Bulletin, 8-9 (October 2012)
- “Where is the Legal Profession Headed?” PD Quarterly, 7-9 (August 2012)
- “It’s Easy as 1, 2, 3 … Addressing Professional Development Issues from Law School through Retirement – Step 3: Rounding Out a Great Career,” NALP Bulletin, 12-13 (June 2012)
- “Competencies for PD Professionals,” PD Quarterly, 1-3 (February 2012)
Accolades
Richard Pearson Award for Professional Development (2016)