Excitement is building for the GOOD (Guys Overcoming Obstacles to Diversity) program in San Diego at the ABA Midyear Meeting on Friday, February 5 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Manchester Grand Hyatt for a program which highlights and honors those men who support the effort to attain gender equality in the legal profession. The program is co-sponsored by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, California Women Lawyers and Lawyers Club of San Diego.

We couldn't do the program or launch the website resources which we anticipate will be developed as a result of the program without the fiscal support of the following:

Advocate: Gomez Trial Attorneys

Advisors: Garan Lucow Miller, PC; Law Office of Frann Setzer; Patricia M. Jarzobski, PC; Polsinelli; Tyson & Mendes

Peers: Jeanne Marie Clavere and Scaglia Law Firm LLC.

The program will begin with a presentation of recent research by Joan C. Williams, Distinguished Professor of Law and Hastings Foundation Chair at University of California, Hastings College of the Law. For too long, the focus has been on how to spot implicit bias. Williams will present a new approach that details how individuals can interrupt bias in real time, in simple low-key ways-and how organizations can do so.

Her presentation will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Alan Bryan, Senior Associate General Counsel of Legal Operations-Outside Counsel Management for WalMart Stores, Inc.; Bill Sailer, Senior Vice President and Legal Counsel for Qualcomm; Tom Sager, Partner at Ballard Spahr and former General Counsel of DuPont; and the Honorable Irma Gonzalez, retired Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The discussion will be moderated by Malissia Clinton, General Counsel for the Aerospace Corporation. Sheryl Axelrod, law firm owner and Co-Chair of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, will explain why diversity pays off on the bottom line for firms and corporations.

The program is intended to engage men in the advancement of women lawyers-a key factor required in order for true progress to be made. We hope this will be the first of many GOOD Guy programs around the country. A toolkit to assist in producing similar programs is currently being developed.

Women lawyers are encouraged to bring one or more male lawyers (current and former clients or colleagues) who have mentored, sponsored, or otherwise supported their careers. These men will be recognized during the program, and will be provided with the latest information on the value of diversity in the profession. We hope every woman lawyer will bring at least one Good Guy to honor. Feel free to use the invitation here.

Registration at no cost is requested for the ABA Midyear Meeting.

It's Time to Send in Dues for 2016

Thank you to all who have already sent in their dues for 2016. We will be publishing our list of 2016 members in the next newsletter. Our membership year runs with the calendar year, which means that this is the right time to send in your organization's membership dues for 2016. Dues for 2016 have not increased, and are based on your organization's membership numbers. We rely on your membership dues and active participation in order to strengthen women's bar groups throughout North America. Click here to download a membership form to send in with your dues check. If you prefer to pay by debit or credit card, click here.

"Don't Raise Your Voice at Me. It's Not Becoming of a Woman"

US Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal sanctioned a California lawyer for his professional discourtesy in making a sexist remark to opposing counsel as well as his bad behavior in depositions and in response to discovery requests. The action made national news when it was reported in the ABA Journal. It's gratifying that the behavior wasn't merely glossed over. Click here to read more on the matter in the California Women Lawyers January newsletter.

Survey of Sexual Harassment?

Does your organization have statistical data relating to sexual harassment in the legal workplace? Have you done programs on sexual harassment in the profession? If so, the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession Sexual Harassment and Gender Bullying Committee wants your input. Contact NCWBA liaison to the Commission Andrea Carlise.

Plan Now for Women's History Month

Whether March, Women's History Month, is an occasion to have an event such as a luncheon featuring thoughts about women lawyers in the 1970s, as will be done by Queen's Bench, the Portland chapter of Oregon Women Lawyers or serves simply as a reminder to rejuvenate your history committee and scan those old newsletters and meeting minutes before they simply get recycled, March is a great time to focus on women's history. For pointers on preserving your history, click here. The National Women's History Project 2016 theme for Women's History Month is Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government. Could this be this be the year when you take the oral histories of some of the notable women lawyers who are in public service in your community?

Ms. JD's Annual Conference, February 19

Aspiring and early career women lawyers won't want to miss "Superwomen JDs," Ms. JD's annual conference, held this year at NYU School of Law. For more details, click here.

National Association of Women Lawyers'

Mid-Year Meeting & Awards Luncheon

San Francisco, March 11-12

.Join NAWL for its 2016 Mid-Year Meeting & Awards Luncheon in San Francisco March 11-12. The meeting's theme is Women at the Forefront: Leveraging Innovation in the Legal Profession. Members of NCWBA organizations are entitled to a 10% registration discount by entering the code MYCWBA2016.

Women Lawyers News

Remember to check Women Lawyers News for articles and unique tools to make practicing law just that much easier.

Women's Bar Leadership Summit

Plan now to come to San Francisco for our full-day Women's Bar Leadership Summit, which will take place on Friday, August 5. This year's theme is

Advancing Change through Innovative Collaboration. Summit sessions will be held at the Bar Association of San Francisco. Our Awards Luncheon will once again take place in the memorable setting of the City Club of San Francisco, which is a short walk from the Bar Association. A small block of rooms has been reserved at the Omni San Francisco at the conference rate of $299 plus tax. To get this rate, you must book early and use this link. Not sure if you are the right person to attend the Summit? Click here for more information.

NCWBA Listserves

The NCWBA maintains three separate listserves. Presidents and Presidents-Elect of our member associations are eligible for our Presidents Circle listserve. Executive Directors and those who take on primary administrative tasks for member organizations which do not have paid staff are eligible for our Executive Directors listserve. Anyone involved with women's bar associations as a leader or member may opt to join our NCWBA listserve on Yahoo Groups. This is an interactive list which is a great resource for referral requests, job announcements and other matters of interest to women's bar associations. To join this list, send us an e-mail with your name and the e-mail which you wish to use, describing your involvement in a women's bar association. Let us know if you know of people who wish to be added to any of our lists.

____________________________________________________

Does Your Organization Have an Event to Share?

Member organizations are invited to have links to significant upcoming events on our "Members" page. Send us your links!

National Conference of Women's Bar Associations | info@ncwba.org | http://www.ncwba.org
PO Box 82366
Portland, OR 97282

Text | Link