Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: Things Are Changing Rapidly For Women Lawyers
Things are changing quickly for women in our field. There are more and more opportunities for women in law, and in criminal defense specifically, to advance and connect. Here are just a few of the new and exciting things happening around the country. I will be at every one of the events discussed below, and I would love to connect if you can make it.
The first woman of color was nominated to lead the ABA in 2015. Paulette Brown of New Jersey will be the first woman of color elected President of the American Bar Association. Brown spoke to the association’s House of Delegates on Monday and acknowledged the symbolic importance of her nomination, noting that “whenever one is the first anything the expectations are a bit different.” Learn more about Paulette Brown’s career and commitment to the advancement of women here.
On February 18th, 2014 the Pennsylvania Bar Institute is holding its annual seminar, Defending the White Collar Case, in Philadelphia. The seminar is organized by Ellen Brotman of Montgomery McCraken, and I’m honored to be participating as a panel speaker. More than half of the panelists are women practitioners, which is a strong statement of Brotman’s commitment to support women in the field and highlight the expertise that women have. For those of us working in the white-collar arena and attending white-collar conferences, we know this is the not the typical ratio of women to men on panels. Bravo to Ellen Brotman for her commitment to change that.
On March 4 through March 5th the Women White Collar Defense Association will be holding its annual spa day event at the Biltmore in Miami.
On March 5, 2014 the Women White Collar Committee for the Criminal Justice section of the American Bar Association is holding its annual Women’s White Collar Reception in connection with the annual ABA White Collar Conference in Miami, Florida, at the Eden Roc hotel. The cocktail reception immediately follows a panel discussion, entitled Women in White Collar in Today’s Global Corporate Community, which will be moderated by Patricia Holmes and Nina Marino, and will feature panelists Karen Popp, Maria Green, Andrea Zopp, and myself.
On March 7, 2014 during NACDL’s Collateral Consequences Conference and Midwinter Meeting, there will be a Lunchtime Panel Discussion focused on women’s issues called Career Paths For Women in Criminal Defense: Challenges and Triumphs. This panel was organized by the NACDL’s Women’s Initiative and sponsored by Ellen Brotman’s firm Montgomery McCraken. The panel will include NACDL Board Member Nina Ginsberg, as well as Margy Love, Jenny Roberts, Margy Meyers, and Michele Fournet.
I look forward to seeing and connecting with many of you at these events.