Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: More Reason for Optimism About the Future

Last week was a prime example of how women in this field are increasingly committed to connecting with and supporting each other. A number of inspiring events took place, and I wanted to take a few moments today to tell you about them.

The Women’s White Collar Defense Association held its annual spa day event at the Biltmore in Miami, and close to 170 women attended events surrounding that program, including our local group’s cabana welcome reception, a cocktail reception, dinner, and breakfast. It was a huge success and the energy and excitement in the room was inspiring.  I was so busy enjoying the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the most successful women in this field, from all over the country, that my photography was lacking but here's a picture to give you the flavor of the event: 

Thereafter, during the ABA White Collar Conference at the Eden Roc, the Women White Collar Subcommittee organized a panel discussion which was moderated by the three chairs of the subcommittee: Nina Marino, Patricia Holmes, and Z Scott.  Excerpts from that discussion were quoted in a Law 360 article. (NOTE: To access the article, you must be a Law 360 subscriber. However, there is a 7-day trial which will allow you to read it for free.) Below is a picture of the panel discussion:

Finally, the NACDL luncheon panel discussion, held at the New Orleans Collateral Consequences Conference, was also a great success. The topic was Career Paths for Women in Criminal Defense, and it featured women from both the private and public sectors. The women on the panel discussed their journeys and how they got to where they are today. The audience was packed with local law students and practitioners from all over the country, and all enjoyed the opportunity to connect with and learn from fellow women.

Despite the challenges that remain for women in criminal defense, I have never been more optimistic about the future – and events like those that took place last week are a major reason why. Be sure to stay tuned as I will continue to highlight these types of opportunities in the future.