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Dear BWLA Family,
Each year, in February, we attempt to recognize and appreciate Black history. Understanding from where we came is a necessary exercise. We celebrate trailblazers who came before us, including Charlotte E. Ray, Ida B. Wells, Constance Baker Motley, and Justice Thurgood Marshall, to name a few. We owe a debt of gratitude for these changemakers, and we seize this opportunity to acknowledge their contributions to American history.
Unfortunately, with the passage of time, our collective memory of all those who paved the way for us has been eroded. The identities of many who toiled so that we may prosper have been lost. Although we may not recall the names of every hero and heroine in Black history, we do a great disservice if we fail to honor and exalt them in the same breath that we uplift those who have become household names. This month, we recognize all those who powered our progress. And, we relish in the opportunities to come because history is still being written. As attorneys, we are uniquely positioned to advocate for the change we wish to see each day. Together, we soar.
Sincerely,
Elsa Andrianifahanana
President
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT ATTORNEY GENERAL LORETTA LYNCH | |
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BWLA is honored to have Loretta Lynch, the former United States Attorney General, as one of its featured speakers for the National Summit. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2015, Lynch served as the 83rd U.S. Attorney General, the first Black woman to lead the Department of Justice in the nation's history.
Lynch continues to lead a highly accomplished and distinguished career. In addition to serving as the U.S. Attorney General, Lynch also served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York during both the Obama and Clinton administrations, fighting terrorism, financial fraud and cybercrime, while defending civil and human rights. Lynch is currently a partner at Paul Weiss, where she advises clients on government and internal investigations and on high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters.
In 2020, Lynch was awarded a New York City National Organization for Women of Power and Influence Award. In 2021, she received a New York Law Journal Distinguished Leaders Award, and the New York State Bar Association's Robert L. Haig Award for distinguished public service. Lynch has also been named one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 250 Women in Litigation" and has been recognized by Chambers in the Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (New York) category.
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Join BWLA for an Unforgettable Night of Culture at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre | |
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Purchase Your Tickets Now and
Reserve Your Hotel Room Before March 2nd
for the 2023 BWLA National Summit of Black Women Lawyers
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BWLA's 2023 National Summit of Black Women Lawyers is quickly approaching! The Summit will be held on March 30th - April 1st at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Hotel in Downtown Chicago. Be sure to visit the Summit website to purchase tickets, reserve your hotel room and much more!
BWLA is hosting the Summit in partnership with the Black Women Lawyers Los Angeles (BWL LA), Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (BWLAM), Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (GWAC), Massachusetts Black Women Attorneys (MBWA), Black Men Lawyers' Association (BMLA), Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), and Wisconsin Association of African American Lawyers (WAAL).
You won't want to miss the array of program offerings featuring an incredible lineup of featured speakers and honored guests, including:
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And there are many more featured speakers to come!
Discounted rates for Summit tickets are available for financially current BWLA members! Current dues-paying members received an email with the access code.
Make sure to reserve your hotel stay at the Fairmont before March 2, 2023 to get the BWLA discounted rate. Rooms are almost sold out!
For more information on how to sponsor and/or get involved with the Summit, please contact our National Summit Team.
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Now Seeking Nominations for the National Summit of Black Women Lawyers on the Rise Awards | |
New Scholarship Announced, Apply Today | |
BWLA Second Annual "Fun on the Slopes" Ski and Spa Retreat | |
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The weekend of February 3-5, 2023, BWLA hosted its second annual "Fun on the Slopes" Ski and Spa Retreat at the Grand Geneva Ski and Spa Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
With twice as many attendees this year, the weekend retreat was truly an amazing time of fun, relaxation, fellowship and sisterhood. With BWLA members, allies, and friends stopping in the BWLA hospitality suite throughout the weekend to laugh and chat, meeting and bonding through ice breaker games, skiing the slopes, lounging at the pool, shopping at local boutiques, and engaging in deep and hilarious discussions at the finale dinner at the Chop, authentic connections were built and strengthened through laughter and shared experiences.
Special thanks to BWLA Recording Secretary Kina Arnold and BWLA Treasurer Christian Conway who spearheaded planning for this unforgettable weekend and to all those who helped make the retreat a reality. Thanks also to Dr. Amber Gardner, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Professor at Northwestern University and Walden University, who provided attendees with a CLE Course, "To Be a Woman, a Lawyer and Black: A Holistic Approach for Improving Resilience, Self- care, and Wellness for Black Women Lawyers."
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An Evening with BWLA Corporate Counsel | |
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On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, the BWLA Corporate Counsel Committee hosted its February meeting as a meet and greet opportunity for law students and attorneys to network with and hear from some of Chicago's top in-house corporate counsel. The event was hosted at the Chicago office of McDermott, Will, and Emery LLP.
During the event, Averil Edwards moderated a candid and engaging discussion on advancement within in-house corporate positions with panelists BWLA Past Presidents Kenya Jenkins Wright and Erica Kirkwood, and BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Members Djenne Clayton and Steffany Cunningham. A special thanks to the BWLA Board Member Ashley Vanardo, and BWLA Corporate Counsel Committee Chairs Averil Edwards and Amber Carpenter for planning the event.
Thank you to McDermott, Will, and Emery LLP for sponsoring the event!
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BWLA Speaks at UIC Law's 2023
Legal Black Summit
"Taking up Space: Unapologetically Black"
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On Saturday, February 18, 2023, BWLA President Elsa Andrianifahanana, partner at Jones Day, BWLA Vice President, Era Laudermilk, Chief of Staff for Law Office of the Cook County Defender, BWLA Board Member at Large, Shannon Stokes, Deputy General Counsel & Ethics Office for the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services, along with Cook County Bar Association President, Natasha Jenkins, associate at Littler Mendelson, BWLA Past President Kalia Coleman, partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, and Malaika Caldwell, Corporate Counsel at Kyndryl served as panelists for University of Illinois at Chicago Law’s 2023 Black Legal Summit “Taking up Space: Unapologetically Black" hosted at the Chicago office of law firm Reed Smith LLP.
Speaking to a crowd of female law students and attorneys, these accomplished women fielded various questions with a candid discussion on how to authentically and confidentially hold one’s space as a Black women in the law in both the public and private sector.
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Justice Joy V. Cunningham Honored at BWLA Judicial Reception and Black History Month Celebration | |
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On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, BWLA hosted its annual Judicial Reception and Black History Month Celebration to celebrate and honor members of the judiciary at the Chicago office of Jones Day. This year, BWLA honored Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham, presenting her with the BWLA Ann Claire Williams Award.
A long standing member of BWLA, Justice Cunningham was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court last year, and is the second Black woman to serve on the state's highest court, following Justice Lisa Holder White, who was appointed earlier last year as well. BWLA President Elsa Andrianifahanana, partner at Jones Day, gave welcoming remarks and Judge Sharon Coleman presented the award to Justice Cunningham in front of a room full of judiciary, attorneys and law school students.
Special thanks BWLA Judicial Reception Co-chairs Renai Rodney and Joan Akalaonu for putting together a wonderful event and thanks to Jones Day for sponsoring.
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BWLA Celebrates Past BWLA Presidents Being Honored at the Earl B. Dickerson Luncheon | |
On Thursday, February 23, 2023, the Chicago Bar Association honored BWLA Past Presidents Judge Patrice Ball-Reed, Kenya Jenkins and Erica Kirkwood, along with Judge Preston Jones Jr. and Derrick Thompson Jr., as 2023 recipients of the Earl B. Dickerson Award. This special award was established in honor of the late Earl B. Dickerson who was was one of the first African-American members of The Chicago Bar Association. The Dickerson Award recognizes and honors minority lawyers and judges whose careers at the bar emulate the courage and dedication of Dickerson in making the law the key to justice for all in our society. | |
Scholarship Opportunity for Graduating 3Ls | |
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The Federal Bar Association Criminal Law Section is offering three $1,500 scholarships for graduating 3Ls interested in pursuing a career in criminal law serving the public interest.
Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to sections@fedbar.org. The cover letter should state the student's plans after graduation and how the student has shown an interest in criminal law during law school.
Materials are due April 15, 2023. The scholarship recipients will be selected by May 15, 2023.
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Congratulations to BWLA Founder/Past President Hon. Patricia Brown Holmes (Ret.) for being nominated and appointed as one of the newest members to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, for her second consecutive recognition as a Top 10 Illinois Super Lawyer, on being inducted into the 2023 Cook County Bar Association Hall of Fame, and being selected by Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth to receive the Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Philanthropic Award on May 18, 2023 for her dedication to good works and public service. | |
Congratulations to BWLA Past President Dorothy Capers for being named an Elite 100 Class 2023 by Diversity Woman. | |
Congratulations to Tondalaya Lloyd for being selected as a 2023 Super Lawyer Rising Star by Super Lawyers. | |
Congratulations to BWLA Board Member Maggie Mendenhall Casey on her new position as Supervising Assistant Corporation Counsel at City of Chicago. | |
Congratulations to Judge Lindsey Jenkins Wright for being confirmed to the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois. | |
Congratulations to our BWLA Administrator Konesha "K" Rhea for being selected as a 2023 Girls In the Game Field of Dreams Honoree. | |
Congratulations to BWLA Small/Solo Firm Committee Chair Deadra Woods Stokes on her new position as Supervising Clinical Professor of Law of the Estate Planning, Probate and Transactional law Clinic at Chicago-Kent College of Law. | |
Do you or someone you know have an achievement that you'd like us to highlight in our monthly newsletter? We want to celebrate our members! Send your latest achievement addressed to administrator@bwla.org. | |
Interested in Being More Engaged with BWLA, Signing Up for a Committee, or Paying your Current Bar Year Membership Dues | |
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Are you interested in becoming more active in BWLA during the 2022-2023 bar year? If so, we have plenty of opportunities you may want to consider, including:
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Joining BWLA. If you haven't yet renewed your BWLA membership for the 2022-2023 bar year, please register here!
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Serving as a Committee Member. BWLA has several committees that members can join. If you're interested in serving on a committee, please fill out this brief survey here!
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Serving on the Judicial Evaluation Committee. The Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) evaluates the qualifications of those who seek election, appointment to or retention to judicial office. The work that the committee does is vital to making sure candidates are just and fair, knowledgeable about the law and are not biased. If interested sign up here!
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BWLA constantly receives new employment opportunities that our members may be interested in. The ever expanding list has become too lengthy to share here, so please be sure to visit the BWLA Job Board to view all current employment opportunities!
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