The Membership Committee is pleased to announce Cory J. Vidal as our October Member of the Month! Cory is the Immediate Past President of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. The Membership Committee would be remiss if we did not recognize his accomplishments this past year. Our organization experienced exponential growth and notoriety under his incredible leadership, and Cory has proven to be an invaluable asset to our organization.
Tell us about yourself.
I am a husband and proud father of two smart and beautiful daughters. Raising my daughters and giving them opportunities I never had is extremely important to me. In addition, I am an in-house attorney at Hancock Whitney Bank. My focus is commercial and consumer banking transactions. I am the Immediate Past President of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society (“Martinet”). I am also involved with several other bar associations.
Why did you choose to become an attorney?
When I decided to go to law school, I had already been a banker for approximately 8 years. I went to law school because I wanted to change my career path. I assumed a law degree would open different doors in the banking industry and provide other career opportunities outside of banking. During law school, my career focus changed several times. Ultimately, I stayed in the banking industry as in-house counsel.
In your view, what are the benefits of being a member of the Martinet Society?
Martinet provides a safe space for African American legal professionals, African American law students and pre-law students, and other members of the legal community. Many of our members are first generation attorneys who do not have a relative or friend that can help them navigate the difficult path to becoming a successful lawyer. We help our members by providing networking opportunities, mentoring, and leadership opportunities that may not be available to them. Martinet promotes the needs, interests, and goals of our members and increases the visibility of a traditionally marginalized group in the practice of law.
What is your favorite Martinet event? Why?
My two favorite Martinet events are the Mock Trial Camp and Pathways and Pipelines. Adria Kimbrough and I worked on the Mock Trial Camp for two years. With the assistance of Megan Haynes, Brent Bartholomew, and Misha Logan, the Camp actually came to fruition. It was truly rewarding to see how much the campers enjoyed their experience. I really believe the Camp will inspire some of the Campers to become lawyers. I chaired the second year of Pathways and Pipelines and it is amazing to see how much the program has grown. The amount of Pathway and Pipeline alumni, that are active members of Martinet evidences the success of the program.
Tell us about other organizations you are involved in or other causes you support.
I am big advocate for bar associations. Bar associations play an important role in the administration of justice in the city, the state and the nation. Because of this, I am actively involved in several bar associations, including the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. I always encourage young lawyers to be active in their local and national bar associations. It will help you advance your career and allow you to give back to others.