WOMEN IN THE PROFESSION
SECTION UPDATE
WOMEN IN THE PROFESSION
The 2017-2018 Atlanta Bar board year is off to a great start! The Women in the Profession Section is celebrating our 12th year as an official section of the Atlanta Bar Association. Our group is dedicated to furthering the practice and perception of law, with a focus on issues unique to women in the practice. Throughout the year, the Women in the Profession Section( WIP) will host networking events to allow women lawyers to interact and develop support systems. WIP also organizes continuing education courses and other substantive programs.
Kickoff Social and Mediation CLE
WIP held its Section Kickoff Social on October 5th at Six Feet Under in West Midtown Atlanta. Dozens of people enjoyed the festive atmosphere while learning more about the WIP section and meeting this year’ s executive board. On October 19th, WIP and JAMS Mediation partnered up for the event“ Diversity and the Power of Understanding,” a panel discussion and reception at JAMS Atlanta. Participants learned about the deficit in diversity and inclusion in the legal landscape, and how this can directly impact the outcomes of mediations.
Upcoming Events
We are excited about two additional upcoming events. Next month, WIP will be teaming up with the Atlanta Bar Public Interest Law Section for a judicial panel. This is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7th – more details to follow. The Women in the Profession Section’ s annual Holiday Party will be Wednesday, December 6th. Please mark your calendars and consider joining us!
Community Service Opportunities
In addition to networking opportunities and substantive programs, WIP also regularly offers community service opportunities for its members. Annual projects include assisting children of incarcerated parents, co-hosting a pro bono partnership which helps low income cancer patients with their legal needs, and fundraising for breast cancer research and awareness.
WIP Membership
Membership in WIP is open to all legal professionals, in all age groups and career stages. Our membership represents a variety of practices, from civil to criminal, judges and government lawyers, partners and law students. Annual dues are just $ 30; visit atlantabar. org for more details. To receive the latest WIP updates and event details, you can follow us on Facebook @ AtlantaBarWIP, on Twitter @ AtlantaBar using the hashtag # WIP, or on LinkedIn at“ Atlanta Bar Women in the Profession Section.”
Thank You Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors JAMS and Huff, Powell, Bailey. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the 2017-2018 board year, please email WIP Chair Kimberly Charles at kdcharles @ atlantalegalaid. org.
Women in the Profession Section 2017-2018 Board of Directors
Kimberly Charles, Chair Megan Hodgkiss, Chair-Elect Lisa Liang, Treasurer Laurie Rashidi-Yazd, Secretary Taylor Tribble, Immediate Past Chair Kristy Barnhart, Member at Large Meredith Carter, Member at Large Jenny Case, Member at Large Sarah Siedentopf, Member at Large Emily Ward, Member at Large Sarah White, Member at Large
Megan T. Hodgkiss Hodgkiss Consulting
mthodgkiss @ gmail. com
1 L-R: Hon. Bianca Motley Broom( Magistrate Court of Fulton County), Women in the Profession Section Member at Large Sarah Siedentopf( The Law Offices of Sarah Siedentopf LLC), Hon. Paige Reese Whitaker( Superior Court of Fulton County), Women in the Profession Section Chair-Elect Megan T. Hodgkiss( Hodgkiss Consulting), Women in the Profession Section Chair Kimberly Charles( Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.), Women in the Profession Member at Large Jennifer G. Case( Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP), and Women in the Profession Section Treasurer Lisa Liang( Hon. Susan E. Edlein, State Court of Fulton County).
2 L-R: Patti M. Richards( The Richards Law Firm LLC), Mary Lewis( The Law Office of Mary Lewis LLC), and Joan Grafstein( JAMS).
3 L-R: Myra Dyer( Exponent) and Miriam F. Gutman( Atlanta Legal Aid Society).
4 L-R: Talis Trevino( Fellows LaBriola LLP), Jill G. Byers( The Millard Law Firm), and Heather Carter( Allscripts).
5 L-R: Women in the Profession Section Treasurer Lisa Liang( Hon. Susan E. Edlein, State Court of Fulton County), Women in the Profession Section Chair-Elect Megan T. Hodgkiss( Hodgkiss Consulting), Women in the Profession Section Chair Kimberly Charles( Atlanta Legal Aid Society,
28 October 2017