BE WELL: W.E.L.L. Summit – Women Empowering Leadership in the Law

Local Attorney Groups Join Forces to Present Women’s Leadership Conference

BY KRISTIANA BUTLER, GORANSON BAIN AUSLEY, PLLC

"Thank you for meeting with me. I have a crazy idea.”

In the fall of 2022, Sherine Thomas started several Zoom meetings this way. She had the daunting task of convincing already-busy lawyers to dedicate time and resources to putting on a brand-new conference—within six months.

As an active member of the Austin legal community, Thomas saw a need for special programming tailored to local female lawyers. Thomas approached Caroline Hall, president of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association (TCWLA), and set up meetings with affinity groups to pitch the idea of hosting a conference for women attorneys in Austin. The response was a resounding “yes.”

“We thought maybe if we were really ambitious, we could pull off a conference, maybe just halfday,” Hall said. “National women lawyer conferences sound amazing, but I can’t get out of town and away from my family for three days. I was thrilled to think about us having something local to offer to the women in our community. We were blown away with how well-received the idea was and how committed and willing to help everyone was. A committee was formed and before we knew it, we had a full-day conference planned.”

Representatives from TCWLA, MAMAs (Mother Attorney Mentor Association), Cafecitos, The Sisters in Law, and League of Lady Lawyers formed the committee with the goal of building community among their groups and offering a full-day conference at no cost to attendees. The groups coalesced around the mission of Women Empowering Leadership in the Law, and the W.E.L.L. Summit was born.

“Each of the participating organizations brings unique perspectives, knowledge, and relationships from which the other organizations can benefit,” Thomas said. “At the same time, each organization recognizes the inherent value of knowledge, education, mentoring, and lifting each other up without regard to memberships or affiliations. The W.E.L.L. Summit provided a place for us to learn from each other, to hear about our journeys, and to build a community designed to support each other in the practice of law without taking away from each organization’s place in our community. The W.E.L.L. Summit highlighted each organization’s unique mission.”

Programming focused on business development, personal finance, battling burnout, negotiating salaries, and owning the room, in addition to providing time for networking.

Senator Sarah Eckhardt, a keynote speaker on a lunchtime panel with Representative Lulu Flores and Representative Vikki Goodwin, encouraged attendees to step up and stand out.

“It is past time for us to lead,” Sen. Eckhardt said.

Thomas echoed Sen. Eckhardt’s sentiment about women in leadership.

“At the end of the day, it helps our entire community when women are empowered and prepared for leadership roles in the legal profession,” Thomas said. “The W.E.L.L. Summit provided a place for us to get ready together.” AL

A panel discussion focusing on business development, personal finance, battling burnout, negotiating salaries, and owning the room. Pictured (L-R): Karen Burgess, Carroll Martin, Katherine Chiarello, and Ashley Nwonuma.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

TCWLA

Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association (TCWLA) was founded in 1977 with 33 members and has now grown to over 300 active members. TCWLA’s mission is to:

• Foster communication among women lawyers.

• Strengthen the image and position of women lawyers in the community.

• Work toward the elimination of gender bias.

• Inform the public about legal issues affecting women.

• Work toward the enhancement of the public perception of the legal profession.

TCWLA is committed to supporting issues affecting women both as lawyers and as members of society. Learn more at tcwla.org.

MAMAs

The Mother Attorney Mentor Association (MAMAs) is over 1,500 members strong and aims to provide educational opportunities for its members (mothers, stepmothers, and mothers-to-be who are lawyers, JDs, or law students) on topics pertaining to career advancement, networking, parenting issues, identifying and solving problems unique to working mothers, and other professional guidance and social events designed to permit women to connect and mentor one another about navigating a legal career while raising children. Learn more at mamasaustin.org.

Cafecitos

Cafecitos is an intimate, intergenerational network of Latina lawyers in Austin. Founded in January 2022, the group seeks to connect and support Latina lawyers practicing in Austin through informal gatherings.

Cafecito meetings are free of charge and are open to all Latina or Hispanic women attorneys. If you are interested in learning more, visit Cafecitos on Facebook or email mac@wittliffcutter.com.

The Sisters in Law, LLC

The Sisters in Law, LLC is an online platform for minority women in the legal profession to share experiences, open reflections, and lessons learned. We strive to bring together women of color and their allies to foster a community of encouragement and inspiration for the next generation of young lawyers. The Sisters in Law, LLC accomplishes this by creating space—both virtual and in person—for connection and professional development.

Additionally, The Sisters in Law, LLC is a collective voice in the conversation on diversity, equity, and retention within the legal field. Learn more at thesistersinlaw.com.

League of Lady Lawyers

The League of Lady Lawyers (LLL)’s goal is to create a support network and peer-to-peer mentoring group for young or young-in-their-career female lawyers in Austin. Being a young lawyer can be intimidating—you have so many questions and there are so many things you don’t know. But you’re not alone. There are other young female lawyers experiencing the same things that you are.

We created LLL to help connect those women. We hope our members form a network that supports and uplifts them throughout their careers. Learn more about the League of Lady Lawyers on Facebook.

Kristiana Butler is a family law attorney in the Austin office of Goranson Bain Ausley PLLC, and the co-president of MAMAs (Mother Attorney Mentor Association).