This publication highlights and chronicles the many accomplishments and programs hosted by the Women Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association (WLD) during the 2017/2018 year. It has been an honor to serve as the Chair of the WLD for the last two years. I have seen the growth of the division and a new found unity that has made my service to the organization not only a pleasure but a privilege. Thanks to my board, committee leaders and financial supporters who have made everything possible. Also, I want to thank the Lord for giving all us volunteer women lawyers strength to give our best as servant leaders to the bar and to our communities. Rosalyn Henderson-Myers Chair, NBA Women Lawyers Division
I am honored to have served for the last two years as WLD Member-at-Large and to have served on the Communications and CLE Committees. My goal was to elevate the WLD brand and provide engaging CLE programs, which has been achieved. Thank you board members for your collective efforts to continue to raise the bar for the women of the WLD. I too thank the Lord for the strength he has given to us all to serve while maintaining our careers.
Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, Esq. Representative –House Dist. 31 South Carolina Legislature Rosalyn is Principal of Henderson Law Group in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In 2017, she was elected House Representative for District 31 for Spartanburg County and has been assigned to the Committees for Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs. She is A graduate of the University of South Carolina and she received her JD From Tulane University. Rosalyn clerked for Judge Ronald J. Sholes, served as a district attorney, trial counsel for Allstate and former member Of the Spartanburg City Council. Rosalyn has served the NBA as Chair of The Health Law Section, and Region IV Dir and is a members of the S.C. Black Lawyers Assn.
Jo Saint-George Member-At-Large
It has been a pleasure to serve the WLD as its Parliamentarian for 2018. The WLD board is made up of phenomenal leaders, innovators, and women of integrity. Thank you board members for making my job easy! Ava Green Bedden Parliamentarian -2018
2017-2018 National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Executive Board CHAIR FIRST VICE CHAIR SECOND VICE CHAIR CORRESPONDING SECRETARY RECORDING SECREETARY TREASURER PARLAMENTARIAN BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE
EX-OFFICIO
ROSALYN HENDERSON-MYERS VALENCIA RAINEY SHARON BRIDGES DENISE HOLMES DESIREE BOYKINS MARY MELCHOR AVA GREENE BEDDEN ANTOINETTE BARKSDALE CATHERINE COSTICT VALERIE CARTRIGHT MONICA DULA
JO SAINT-GEORGE SHAMMARA HENDERSON KILA BOBIER JUAN THOMAS
Jo Saint-George President & General Counsel FHG Media Enterprises, LLC Publisher & Designer/WLD Magazine Owner of MCTV
Ava Greene Bedden Editor WLD Magazine
I'd r at h er see if I can h elp a ch ild, t h an set t le an ar gu m en t bet w een adu lt s over m on ey. Jane Bolin
First African American to graduate from Yale Law School and first AfricanAmerican female judge in the U.S.
By Rosalyn Hender son-M yer s Chair NBA Women Lawyers Division
It is is that time of the year again when we are anxiously awaiting our annual convention and enjoying our Women Lawyers Division (WLD) activities. We have been busy all year bringing you quality programming as we continue to uplift all women in our midst. I am deeply honored you have given me the privilege of leading our division. We strive to continue to uplift our division by continuing the rich tradition of women attorneys leading a better NBA and to the betterment of our profession at large. This edition contains our year in review of our programming during our annual convention last summer in Toronto, Canada. Following the convention, we partnered with the National Council of Negro Women, and provided substantive programming at both Wiley Branton Symposiums in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Charleston, South Carolina. WLD led women attorneys and our President, Juan Thomas, in our annual
membership Swearing In to the United States Supreme Court. We were represented at the Congressional Black Caucus events, the Gertrude Rush Conference, the 3rd Annual General Counsel Invitational, and the International trip to Ghana and Senegal. Also, in this edition we highlight women to watch and take a look at the future of the United States Supreme Court. You will also find our upcoming Annual Convention programs and CLE seminars. Get involved in our Respect Yourself Program where we mentor our young ladies, join us for our Retreat and take a bus tour with us of a Plantation, attend our Achievement Awards Breakfast as we honor and celebrate seventeen phenomenal women, then join us after the breakfast for our two seminars as we explore and debate Social Justice and Sexual Harassment. We also will have our annual community service component by giving backpacks to under-served youth. You can help WLD by bringing to the convention book bags stuffed with school supplies. We invite you to get involved in the WLD and serve on a committee. We need more of you engaged.
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We need your thoughts, your knowledge, your expertise, and your talents. Collectively we can achieve great things. We encourage you and ask you to encourage others to join our division. During our annual meeting on Sunday, July 29, 2018 we will discuss future initiatives and will elect officers for the upcoming year. Join us in New Orleans, LA as we continue ?Leading Forward Together?. I look forward to seeing you and working with you this year. See you in NOLA!
Sisterly & Sincerely,
2017 Year End Review RESPECTYOURSELF- MENTORSHIPPROGRAM WLD?s 2017 Respect Yourself Program included hosting 20 girls from the Boys and Girls Club of Toronto. WLD partnered with the YEP Program and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Toronto, who served as mentors. As part of the program we provided breakfast and lunch. Two speakers from the Toronto area presented on building self-esteem and leadership. Each girl received a tee-shirt, water bottle, book bag filled with goodies and a book on self-esteem by a national black author.
NATIONALCOUNCILOFNEGRO WOMEN(NCNW)NOV.2017 WLD is an affiliate member of NCNW and on its board of directors. During its annual convention the Chair Roz spoke at its annual Affiliates meeting informing the group of the work of the NBA and the WLD. During the convention, Roz also arranged a discussion with Denny?s Chairman of the Board about NBA sponsorship.
COMMUNITYSERVICE/SHELTER WLD donated over $400 worth of diapers to the Red Door shelter in Toronto and personally presented them to the shelter. This is an annual event for WLD in the city where we have our annual convention.
NBA-WLDCHURCHPROMO2017 WLD Chair, Rosalyn Henderson -Myers shared with local pastors an article in the July 2017 National Bar Association Magazine entitled ?The African American Church Under The Trump Administration?. She communicated with local pastors the need for collaboration between the churches and the NBA to facilitate strategic grass-root mobilization that includes the legal expertise of the NBA. This meeting was an effort to build relationships between the NBA and black clergy and to expand our footprint and brand.
TORONTORECEPTION 2017AWARDSBREAKFAST WLD hosted an Awards Breakfast with over 130 attendees where we honored women attorneys and judges who had given service to the NBA. The Speaker at the breakfast was Maggie Anderson, author of the book ?Our Black Year?. During the breakfast we invited all past chairs of 45th Anniversary.
WLD hosted a Welcome Reception at the Toronto City Hall. The reception featured a panel discussion on building partnerships and shared challenges and solutions. Participants included attorneys from the Canadian Bar, Canadian Senator Anne C. Cools, Rev Jesse Jackson, NBA Presidents Juan Thomas and Benjamin Crump, and Judge Augustine. About 100 persons were in attendance. The exchange during the panel discussion was enlightening.
During the 2017 convention, WLD also teamed up with Toronto news producer Gwen Chapman. Through Ms. Chapman, WLD secured speakers to be on a local radio program to market and educate Toronto on the NBA. MS. Chapman also covered our events and produced television spots.
2017 Year End Review WLDMEMBERSONTHEHILL&ATTHECBC WLD members, Jo Saint-George, Kimberley Ward, Lavern L. Tucker and Michell Sanders met with Congressman John James Conyers Jr. during the NBA Day on the Hill.
WLD also participated in the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference and hosted a membership recruitment drive.
WILEYBRANTONSYMPOSIUM-ALBUQUERQUE10/2017 WLD hosted a luncheon and panel discussion during the symposium. WLD sponsored with a donation of $1000. The panel was so well received the division is sponsoring the panel to New Orleans for a CLE.
SupremeCourt JusticeMeeting U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg met with WLD leaders and admitees during the WLD Swearing-In Reception.
2017 Year End Review
Chair, Rosalyn Henderson-Meyers and 1st Vice Chair, Valencia Rainey present an appreciation gift to Maggee Anderson -Guest speaker. for the 2017 Awards Breakfast.
1st Vice Chair Valencia Rainey and Treasurer, Mary Malchur on WLD boat cruise "Retreat" co-hosted by the IP Law Section of the NBA.
The WLD annually hosts its United States Supreme Court swearing In Ceremony lead by Iris McCullum Greene. In 2017, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg attended the ceremony reception. In 2018, 12 NBA members were sworn in along with the NBA President Juan Thomas.
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VIEW ALL N OM IN EES
NEW BRANDED AWARDS PROGRAM By Sharon Bridges - Chair, WLD Awards Breakfast
The achievements of black women lawyers must be collectively promoted and their thought leadership elevated as influential voices in media so that all women may rise above the noise of the fictional negative stereotypes in media that have affected the "real lives" of women professionals. Since 1976, the NBA Women Lawyers Division has hosted its Annual Awards Breakfast to highlight the achievements of black women lawyers in the country. Notable breakfast guest speakers have included the Hon. Constance Baker Motley, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York; the Hon. Eleanor Holmes Norton, non-voting Congressional Delegate from the District of Columbia; the Hon. Ann Diggs Taylor, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; the Hon. Joyce London Alexander and the list goes on. This year the 2018 Awards Breakfast Committee, which I Chair, decided to elevate the visibility of the nominees and awardees by working with FHG Media Enterprises, LLC to developa new branded look for the awards program. FHG is the legal 2 WEBSITE.COM/MAGAZINE
industries first and only African -American and women owned legal media company whose ?sole mission? is to market and brand the thought leadership and accomplishments of minority and women lawyers through its new digital TV network www.MinorityCounselorTV.com. Jo Saint-George, founder of FHG, was excited about the opportunity to form an alliance with the WLD to develop a new branded look that MCTV could promote while telling the stories of awesome black women lawyers. With all of the negative images of women in media, and in particular the very toxic images of black women as professional, Jo believes it is her duty to reveal to the world the positive accomplishments of minority lawyers and women lawyers of color. It is also
her belief that the achievements of black women lawyers must be collectively promoted and their thought leadership elevated as influential voices in media so that all women may rise above the noise of the negative stereotypes in media that have affected the ?real lives? of women professionals. " Consequently, FHG?s production of the ?Women of Achievement? (WOA) magazine for the WLD is the first step in giving black women lawyers their ?seat at the digital media table?. Roz and I are happy that the new branded look allows the WLD footprint to expand and bring unity amongst women lawyers to further diversity in the legal profession and to battle the forces that are trying to keep the ?glass ceiling? from shattering. According to Roz, "only through collaboration can all lawyers of color effectively compete in this very crowded and competitive digital landscape." FHG looks forward to working with all women lawyers to build their brand. Click here to view the WOA nominee magazine and see the winners on the next page.
CORPORATECOUNSEL
Kimberly Phillips
Vicki Blanton
Sandra Diggs Miller
Katrina Jackson
Kimberley Ward
JUDICIARY
Hon. Patricia Wise
Hon. Nanette J. Brown
Hon. Bernice Donald
Ashley Heilprin
SOLOFIRM
Denise Holmes
MAJORITYFIRM
Dana Douglas
Patricia M. Rosier
Antoinette Jackson
Kim Boyle
Antoinette Barksdale
Jennifer Riley-Collins
Khyla Craine
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WOMEN 2 WATCH Either making waves or making strides, these are WLD members to watch!
By Ava Greene Bedden
for supervising the work of all attorneys who handle employment matters. Previously, Raheemah advanced the cause of civil rights as Senior Trial Attorney for the United States Department of Justice?s Civil Rights Division, where she prosecuted complex employment discrimination cases.
Raheeman Abdulale Chair, KARAMAH Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights
Raheemah Abdulaleem currently serves as Chair of Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights. Karamah is the nation?s leading organization for educating both Muslims and non-Muslims about the just and equitable juristic basis of Islam. Through its research and educational programs, Karamah promotes gender and racial equity, conflict resolution, civil rights and leadership development. Karamah?s flagship "Law and Leadership" program has cultivated a global network of Muslim women leaders. Raheemah is also a member of the Capital Area Muslim Bar Association and the National Bar Association. Raheemah is currently employed as a Senior Associate General Counsel in the Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration.
Raheemah heads the Employment
Raheemah?s civil prosecutions are wide and varied, and include successfully representing the United States in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against a major city for engaging in discriminatory practices against firefighter applicants, and successfully suing public employers that failed to provide religious accommodations to employees as legally required. Raheemah advanced President Obama?s criminal justice reform efforts through her service on DOJ?s Clemency Initiative announced in 2014. She reviewed federal inmate petitions, the majority from inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses, and made recommendations to the President. Raheemah?s work contributed to President Obama granting a record number of commutations - more than the previous seven Presidents combined. Prior to entering government, Raheemah worked at two nationally-recognized law firms where she represented public and private sector employers in various labor and employment related matters.
Raheemah is a distinguished graduate
served on the editorial board of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review and worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. She received her Bachelors of Arts from Yale University. In 2016, Raheemah was featured in a White House blog profiling Muslim Americans in the White House and she received a Nation?s Best Advocate: Top 40 Lawyers nationwide award from the National Bar Association.
Raheemah served as the featured speaker for the 2017 Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Institute?s Trailblazer Lecture and she served as a Faculty Member for the Fall 2017 Harvard Law School Trial Advocacy Workshop.
Raheema speaking during Black History Month panel discussion titled: Are We Allies?
WOMEN
WATCH
2 K aren Williams Gooden Assistant Secretary for Administration Maryland Department of Transportation
Karen Williams Gooden is a noted public administrator, lawyer and author. She is currently Assistant Secretary for Administration at the Maryland Department of Transportation where she oversees the Office of Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE) including the Certification Program, the Office of Diversity and Equity including MBE Compliance, the Office of Environment, Risk Management, Rail Safety, and Fleet, Facilities and Administrative Services. Prior to her appointment at the Maryland Department of Transportation, Mrs. Williams Gooden served as the deputy director and legal counsel to the Prince George?s County Minority Business Opportunities Commission and the former Deputy Director of the Maryland Housing Fund at the Department of Housing and Community Development. Karen Williams Gooden has dedicated most of her administrative and legal career to work in the public sector. She has served as an attorney for the Prince George?s County Board of Appeals and has been a hearing examiner for state government appellate cases arising from the Office of Administrative Hearings.
The Office of Minority Business Enterprise (OMBE), under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Gooden, witnessed a 29% increase in the number of on-line certified MBE firms from 4,018 in 2007 to 5,193 in 2010. Also, the number of applications received during that same time frame increased from 784 in 2007 to 979 in 2010. Under Assistant Secretary Gooden?s direction, within the past three months more than 1,900 Maryland Department of Transportation managers and supervisors were trained in federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws, policies and procedures. This training elevated staffs?awareness of expectations and responsibilities required to fulfill their roles as leaders in the organization. Assistant Secretary Gooden oversaw the negotiation and ratification of a Voluntary Audit and Disclosure Agreement between the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2008. This landmark Self-Audit Agreement solidified Maryland?s approach for optimizing its resources so that all of its transportation facilities state-wide could achieve full environmental compliance.
This first ever comprehensive Agreement undertaken by a state department of transportation made Maryland a national leader and set the framework for states to emulate. Mrs. Gooden is the author of two books on the history of African Americans in Prince George?s County, Maryland under the titles, "Like A Phoenix I?ll Rise: An illustrated History of African Americans in Prince George?s County, Maryland, 1696-1996" and ACross Borne: ABiography of Judge James Franklyn Bourne, Jr." Mrs. Gooden also authored a biographical work on the late Delegate Pauline Menes, the longest serving member of the House of Delegates in Prince George?s County, Maryland. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her writings and community involvement, including the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association?s President?s Award for Service and Commitment to the organization. Ms. Gooden received her law degree from the Howard University School of Law, and her undergraduate degree cum laude in English from Howard University. She is married to Caesar Gooden, II and they have one daughter, Lezla.
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Shammar a H. Hender son Managing Partner Henderson & Groman, P.C.
Shammara H. Henderson, NBA?s Board Member-at-Large and WLD?s Member-at-Large, was recently honored by the University of New Mexico School of Law (UNMSOL) with the First UNMSOL Promise Award on October 20, 2017 at the Annual Distinguished Achievement Award Dinner (DAAD) hosted by the UNMSOL Alumni Board. This awards dinner has been an annual event for many years. The honorees have historically been attorneys who have practiced over 20 years and have had a significant impact on New Mexico or the country as an attorney. The DAAD honorees at the awards dinner were: Professor Barbara E. Bergman, Director of Advocacy, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and former Dean and law professor at UNMSOL for many years after a long career as a Federal Public Defender in Washington, DC; the Honorable Michael D. Bustamante (Ret.), a recently retired New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge; and Professor James W. Ellis, UNMSOL professor who has shaped the law regarding mental retardation and incarceration across the country, to include multiple US Supreme Court cases.
Shammara was chosen as the first honoree to receive the Promise Award due to her commitment to the legal community and professional accomplishments in the ten years she has been practicing law. After graduating from UNMSOL in 2007, Shammara was a judicial law clerk at the New Mexico Supreme Court for Justice Charles W. Daniels. She served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Second Judicial District. She later became the Associate General Counsel for the Office of Governor Bill Richardson, and then an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the District of New Mexico, where she prosecuted large drug trafficking organizations and complex designated international production of child pornography cases. She also defended the United States in employment discrimination and federal tort cases. Shammara recently opened her own law practice with another former AUSA, Karen Grohman. Together they file state and federal civil rights, employment discrimination, and tort cases on behalf of plaintiffs. They also practice in the areas of criminal defense and victim representation.
She thanked those who mentored her and was visibly honored to have been picked for the award. She stated that she ?was shocked to be receiving the award as [she] wasn?t doing anything different than what was done for [her].? But Shammara?s impact, in just ten years, on the legal community is clear. Outside of the National Bar Association where she has previously served as Region X Director. Shammara is the Vice-President of the UNMSOL Alumni Board; a member of the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, which is a New Mexico Supreme Court appointment; as well as former President of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association. Shammara is also former Treasurer for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Xi Omega Chapter, current Parliamentarian for the Link, Inc., Albuquerque Chapter, and an active member of the local NAACP. In all of these organizations, Shammara has focused on mentorship and scholarships.
Shammara?s speech at the awards dinner was fitting for how she sees herself in the legal community.
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2018 SUMMATION 2018WILEYBRANTONSYMPOSIUM WLD?s Chair served as co-chair of the symposium bringing together South Carolina's legislatures, public officials, community leaders, judges, attorneys, and law students to discuss gun violence and our mental health crisis in America. The Symposium brought awareness of the NBA to the community and affiliate chapters. It served to spark interest and increase membership in the NBA.
NBA3RDGENERALCOUNSEL INVITATIONAL Topics included the path and transition to general counsel; closing the wealth gap with investments; enhancing your leadership profile; and, the art and value of executive coaching. .
SCLEGISLATIVERECOGNITION Chair and South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus presented a resolution passed by the full SC House of Representatives recognizing the NBA MLK Oral Advocacy Competition and the national winner, South Carolina native Justice Hill. The legislature gave a standing ovation to Justice and treated he and his family to lunch after the session.
The Third Annual General Counsel Invitational took place at the New York City Bar on May 17, 2018. NBA President Juan Thomas welcomed attendees. NBA President-Elect Joseph Drayton delivered the occasion and acknowledged the co-chairs and sponsors. Sessions were fast-paced and informative with short, fellowship breaks in-between to allow attendees to network.
The session on deconstructing the path and transition to the office of general counsel provided noteworthy insights including four elements of success: drive (commitment to be the best); emotional intelligence; preparation; and luck (where preparation meets opportunity). The keynote speaker was Mr. Calvin G. Butler, CEO, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (?BGE?). His assent to the CEO position included several positions and industries which afforded Mr. Butler the opportunity to learn and sharpen his problem-solving skills. He reminded the attendees that relationship building is key and having those relationships will build good will and loyalty.
Marsha Simms, Board Member of Southeby?s offered key insights during the session on the transition from counselor to board service. Along with moderator, Hon. L. Priscilla Hall, Ms. Simms shared that it is important to cultivate relationships with board members; to keep them advised (no surprises); and to be prepared to answer questions at the board meeting.
Other key take-aways from the Invitational included having confidence in your abilities; self-awareness; and knowing how to play in the space you are in.Following the Invitational, attendees were treated to dinner and networking at the New York Yankees Steakhouse.
UNLEASHING POWER For forty seven years, the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division (WLD) has been empowering women in the legal profession. This year the WLD will celebrate leaders for their exemplary work and contributions to the community and the legal profession during its annual Awards Breakfast on July 31, 2018, from 7 am to 9 am at the Hilton Riverside Hotel, New Orleans. The honorees have excelled as young lawyers, solo and small firm lawyers,
corporate counsel, minority partners in majority firms, public service, politics, the judiciary and have paved the way to success for other women lawyers. This year?s theme is Unleashing the Power and Purpose of Women Lawyers: The Time Is Now! Our speaker is author, attorney, former judge and TV personality, the Honorable Penny Brown Reynolds. Tickets, tables, sponsorships and ads are available
Pu r ch ase
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via Event Brite, on the National Bar Association?s website and will also be sold on site at the convention. Join us as we celebrate the achievement of deserving women Get your ticket to the breakfast today! The cost is $65 and tickets are available for purchase. Click the button below.
FEMALE ATTORNEY ENTREPRENEURS Exploring the rise of entrepreneurship in the legal profession.
By Shammar a Hender son More than ever, attorneys are leaving positions in large law firms and even government positions to start their own solo and small law practices. Female lawyers are no exception. With companies refusing to pay for associate billable hours and competition with flat rates, there seem to be fewer and fewer possibilities for attorneys in large law firms and, with administration changes, it is no surprise that many are choosing to leave government positions. What is the appeal of a boutique law practice or a solo practice? For many women, the answer is the opportunity to be their own boss. Whether it is because they want
more time with family or because they want to rise past the glass ceiling in place somewhere else, there is a huge appeal to being your own boss. But with becoming your own boss comes a lot of responsibility. These women are no longer only responsible for knowing the law and vigorously arguing for their client, they now need to know and understand Quick Books, practice
management software, social media advertising, and a host of on-line programs that are out there to help you run your law practice. Time management is a whole new concept when you are calculating gross receipts tax owed out of your operating account and also need to get an appellate brief out the same day. Yet, who is a better multi-tasker than a woman? . exactly! No one! This trend is one that should be embraced and fought for. Women can continue to grow into this area of the law and be successful. Gone are the days of making money for others and giving time to those who may not appreciate your sacrifice from family and loved ones. If you?re going to pull sixty-plus- hours a week, why not do it for yourself? And then treat yourself to that ring, dress, car, house, or vacation you have always wanted when your competitive fees get you the client you want over the large law firm with too much overhead.
DIVERSE ATTORNEY PIPELINE PROGRAM (DAPP) Filling the legal pipeline with women of color!
By Honor Richar ds, DAPP Program Director
Recruitment, training and retention of women lawyers of color in the legal profession. That is the mission of DAPP! DAPP FOCUS The Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program (DAPP) is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization that aims to increase the participation rate of women of color (?WOC?) in the professional legal marketplace, which rate has exhibited a continued decline in recent years. Based in Chicago, DAPP is designedequip first-year WOC law students with academic support, professional development, book stipends, academic coaching, attorney mentoring, and, most importantly, paid internships at corporations and law firms following their first year of law school. DAPP scholars undergo an arduous application and interview process: we evaluate the applicants?mental fortitude, community involvement, career goals, and plans to increase diversity at their schools and in the legal profession. DAPP scholars attend weekly Saturday sessions covering a variety of topics: including legal writing,
black letter law, exam preparation, resume workshops, and mock interviews. Above all, DAPP cultivates a safe space where WOC are empowered to thrive in law school and the legal profession. DAPP was co-founded by National Bar Association members and past National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 40 under 40 recipients Tiffany Harper and Chasity Boyce. This year, it began a new undertaking: DAPP Direct. DAPP Direct is a nationwide job placement and career-readiness program for first-year WOC.
PREPARATION The job fair -- for WOC, run by WOC -- pairs law firms with WOC in-house counsel who interview on the firms?behalf at the fair. The students undergo an application process similar to that of the scholars program, and selected students participate in webinars discussing professional development, writing skills, and
resume-building, in order to prepare them for their summer placements. The DAPP Direct job fair is a unique experience for students and employers alike. Retention rates for WOC in the legal profession are chronically low, and the DAPP Direct Job fair grants employers access to talented, client-minded WOC law students who have received tailored professional training; thus, maximizing their potential success in their summer positions and beyond. Additionally, DAPP has spearheaded another initiative: the DAPP Client Readiness Bootcamp. The first annual Client Readiness Bootcamp took place this June in Chicago, preparing both DAPP Scholars and DAPP Direct students for their summer internships. The women met with panelists from law firms, corporations, and law schools. The intensive two-day program included activities that helped the women sharpen such tangible skills such as legal research and writing techniques, or such intangibles as acquiring strategies to navigate challenges and mistakes. This Bootcamp program is vital to
the continued success of the DAPP lawyers-to-be. DAPP needs all of our support in order to expand the pipeline of WOC lawyers into the legal profession.
EMPLOYMENT
If you are interested in getting involved with this incredible program, or learning how you can support the organization and our fellow National Bar Association members Chasity Boyce, Tiffany Harper, and Alicia Wilson, please reach out to DAPP at admin@dapprogram.org for further information.
Tiffany Harper & Chasity Boyce
2017 Dapp Class
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WE GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM FRIENDS People believed that I had enormous power as the Corporate Ombudsman of the 7th largest bank in the nation. After all, I reported to the President! But, reality was a lot different. I leveraged partners throughout the business to help me achieve the organizational goals that were my mission. I became an expert at gathering support and delegating. As a solo lawyer or small law practice owner, you might think that collaboration is not for you.
Carnegie amassed a fort une because he was willing to let go and put t he talent s of ot hers to his good use. I am suggesting that you do the same and put the talents of a writer, financial team, lawyer, virtual assistant and Web person to good use in your small business.
I accomplished most of my work through collaboration with others . After all, you can do everything yourself and save a bundle of money, right? Eh, wrong. No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or take all the credit. Andrew Carnegie .
You recognize that name, right? Carnegie. The steel giant who became a major philanthropist responsible for our library system and Carnegie-Mellon University. Big delegation fan.
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M ak e 2018 you r Best Year - It is time for you to gather your support team to make 2018 your best year ever. The hours that you recapture by delegating will have an impact on your bottom line. Law is evolving.
Give you r self per m ission t o get su ppor t - Did you know that lawyers say that their one of their biggest challenges is doing everything themselves and not having enough time? Would you agree with this statement? Is it true for you?
Some solo pract it ioners prefer to stay overwhelmed because t hey believe it signifies to t heir client s (and to t hem) t hat t heir value must be high because t hey are in such demand.
They refuse to let go, fearing that there will not be anything left for them to do. ?Ummmm, no?. You know what Michael Gerber, author of the E-Myth Attorney, would say don?t you? You are being the technician in your business when you insist on doing everything. Give yourself permission to seek out and effectively use experts in topics where you do not have the interest or knowledge to be effective. Be the visionary. Be the brain, not the brawn. Richard Branson says, ?Virgin?s ability to grow and diversify successfully was set in the company?s early days, with my learning how to delegate and let go.?
Who is on your Biz Dream Team? Your biz dream team islike the Celticsback in the 90?s. When you got Bird, Parrish and Chief on the floor workingtheir game, well, game over. THE PLAYERS Your biz dream team is like the Celtics back in 90s. When you got Bird, Parrish and Chief on the floor working their game, well, game over. No contest. I have no idea why I love sports analogies when I am not a big sports fan, but it works. Your Biz Dream Team enables you to make the big ?3-pointer ? (more money, more time, more growth- woosh). Your law business runs better and you enjoy it more, too. These are the roles that I recommend to clients who want more efficiency. You have the option of bringing on employees, of course, but I suggest starting with freelancers. Outsourcing is a more affordable option that gives you an opportunity to test and tweak your selection and hiring process. Sites like Upwork and Fiverr are the most popular outsourcing platforms for on-demand help.
However, there are also lawyer-exclusive options like Firecite, which provides research and writing assistance. Com in g ou t f ir st , w e h ave you r Wr it er ! You r w r it er is essen t ial. Bring your ?A game?. In a crowded legal practice area like family, immigration or business, your practice will grow when visitors can clearly see that you have the experience and legal knowledge to solve their specific problem. As a lawyer, it can be hard to do when you are ?all up in it?daily.
You lose your object ivit y and cannot see t he shine because you ARE t he shine. That is why you need a great copywriter to take your story and present it in the most compelling manner to your audience. The writer can help you?
Polish your branding story. Storytelling is super important to sharing who you are and why you do what you do. I tell the story of my husband losing his business because he did not delegate as a powerful cautionary tale. How can your story drive home the value of your business? Get to t he heart of t he mat ter. We buy based on emotion, not logic, according to brain science. Your writer knows which words to use to visually paint a picture and generate emotions that lead to sales.
Of course, that is not all your writer will do for you, but don?t you think that is a great start? In addition to making you sound like the rock star you are, your writer can create your:
You r w r it er can cr eat e an at t en t ion -gr abbin g, st an d ou t elevat or pit ch for each market you select. Personally, I have one message that I share with lawyers, CPAs, therapists and other professionals and another that I share with entrepreneurs. Same message, shaped slightly differently for each group to increase retention.
Out source to a writer! Check out Growt h Geeks, an on-line market place for high qualit y vet ted market ing services.
- Homepage copy - Sales page copy - Blog posts - Guest posts - Elevator pitch - White paper (you can check out mine here) Do you want the benefits of storytelling but do not have the time or interest?
Next , let m e in t r odu ce you r Fin an cial Team !! Ser iou sly, you n eed a f in an cial t eam , even if you ?r e a 1 per son sh op. I bet when you think financial, you?re thinking bookkeeper or accountant. Truth be told, you need a bookkeeper, accountant and wealth advisor. 3 MAGAZINE NAME
I am a lawyer for a reason. I don?t love numbers and we?ve had a funky relationship for years. Mainly, I?d ignore the numbers until I needed to do something like pay taxes. That lead to another problem: paperwork shame. I literally took a shoebox of receipts to my first bookkeeper. Thankfully, Kathy had a ton of patience with me as I learned to be a better client. I realized that many lawyers also dread and avoid the finances and get into deep trouble. You know you need a financial team: bookkeeper, accountant and wealth advisor. These folks are the hands, brains and vision of your business. One tip from your accountant could save you thousands of dollars in self-employment taxes. What you might not know is how to hire a financial team who gets that you are number-phobic and likes that challenge. Let me share a couple of tips. Look f or t est im on ials t h at sh ar e som e of you r issu es. ?I came in with a shoebox and she turned it into cash!? Social proof is a wonderful thing. Read w ebsit es t o discover t h e pr of ession al?s per son alit y an d valu es. The about section is a good place to start but also read the LinkedIn profile to get a fuller picture. The key is finding financial professionals that you trust without question. Like you?d be very
comfortable telling this person that you?ve worn your underwear two days in a row. Who could you say that to? Someone who you know won?t judge you!! In addition to helping you to keep more of the money you earn, your financial team can help you: - Pick the most cost effective business structure (sole, LLC, corp) - Set up your chart of accounts in your on-line accounting software - Reconcile your accounts - Do billing - Help you set prices correctly - Forecast your financial picture - Create a wealth plan - Do your taxes By t h e w ay, I like w or k in g w it h Pr of it Fir st pr of ession als who use the process laid out in the book by the same name. This method allows you to stop doing accounting every week and limit it to a simply transfer of funds twice a month. Very simple. Want to work with my team? Contact me. Now , br in gin g u p you r Law yer ! Yes, law yer s n eed law yer s. Doctors don?t set their own broken bones and you shouldn?t be advising yourself about your law practice and risk. Hiring another lawyer can seem daunting. Can I tell you a little secret? Your attorney is a small business owner too who happens to have specialized knowledge. Relate to him or her that way and you?ll feel like it?s more of a balance of power.
Lawyers negotiate their fees. There are so many more models for payment now so ask if you want or need a different fee arrangement. I used an Up Counsel attorney to execute my LLC for a fixed price, even though I am an attorney. It?s a little more expensive than Avvo but the upside is I have a relationship with an attorney I can call anytime. (you only pay for the time you use) In addition to representing you against a lawsuit, your attorney can help you: - Identify the proper business entity structure (along with your accountant) - Write custom contracts - Write custom Terms of Service Be a referral source Introduce you to referral sources M ake som e n oise f or you r Vir t u al Assist an t ! A general virtual assistant (GVA) is a remote worker who helps you get things done in your business. VAs help you complete administrative and marketing tasks that are time-consuming for you or beyond your skill level. You r VA is essen t ial. Your VA can work on a part-time or full time basis, usually for an hourly rate. US-based VAs start around $35-50 per/hour, depending on their specialization. You can have a VA handle - your inbox- email sorting and responding - client requests - social media creation and promotion creating marketing materials like newsletters and info-graphics -
research and prospecting -Managing your calendar. Last bu t n ot least - you r Web Per son ! You r w eb per son is essen t ial Th e In t er n et is cr u cial t o r u n n in g a pr of it able law bu sin ess. Clients expect you to have a wellfunctioning, good-looking website. 81% of consumers check you out online before contacting you. Online review sites like are part of business life because 90% of consumers check those places in addition to your website. You m u st h ave an u p-t o-dat e, r elevan t on -lin e pr esen ce. That means you must have a web person on your team to take care of the tech stuff. Sure, you could do it yourself and save money. But what?s more expensive: getting an expert the first time or having the expert fix your mess? Your web person will oversee - installing WordPress and your theme - installing and updating plugins - setting up your SEO optimization - updating your theme dealing with hosting issues - ongoing maintenance - emergency backups. Th is is n ot an exh au st ive list by an y m ean s. Your VA can help you at home with personal tasks, too, like researching airfare for your dream trip. As far as
priorities, you ultimately have to make the decision on how you will build your eam, but one thing I can say, a VA can can be life changing and game changing for your business. You choose!
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DONATIONS NEEDED! While this country has been plagued with acts of disrespect towards people of color & religions, the WLD is teaching young ladies that respect for others starts first with respecting "yourself" . During the NBA?s 93rd Annual Convention, the Women Lawyers Division (WLD) will continue its ?Respect Yourself? Community Outreach Program, a mentor program designed to educate and empower young African American girls on the importance of self-respect and the respect of others. Inspired over hearing negative comments about African American girls on a radio talk show, the WLD works cooperatively with the National Bar Association (NBA) Regions and Affiliates chapters to help promote the program in their respective geographic areas.
Accordingly, WLD will need at least twenty-five (25) women to serve as mentors. If you are willing to serve as a mentor, your responsibilities will include the following: contacting your assigned mentee at least once before and after the program; and attending the program on July 28, 2018 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
MENTOR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Twenty-Five (25) young ladies will be selected from three New Orleans? local youth organizations to participate in the 2018 Respect Yourself Mentor Program. 2 WEBSITE.COM/MAGAZINE
To sign up as a mentor, please contact the Program Co-Chairs, Valerie M. Cartright, Esq. at Valerie@Cartrightandcompany.com, or Antoinette Barksdale, Esq. at barksdaleesq@gmail.com.
Shortly before the Respect Yourself Program, you will receive a letter outlining your responsibilities and the name of your mentee. NON-MENTOR ATTENDEE OPTIONS The Program is open to all WLD members. We ask that, if you plan to attend but do not plan to serve as a mentor, you cover the costs of your lunch. To sign up as a non-mentor attendee, contact Program CoChairs, Valerie M. Cartright, Esq.at Valerie@Cartrightandcompa ny.com, or Antoinette Barksdale, Esq. at barksdaleesq@gmail.com on or before July 26, 2018. If you would like to purchase a "Respect Yourself" tee-shirt for $15 please contact Antoinette Barksdale, Esq. on or before July 26, 2018. DONATION REQUEST You can also help by donating to the young ladies??swag bags?. These member contributions are an important part of the Respect Yourself experience. See the above list of donation items needed.
WHAT MAKES SOMEONE AN AMERICAN? Op -ED
By Rosalyn Hender son - M yer s, Esq.
Representative - House District 31, South Carolina Legislature
As a legislator, I believe this question is the basic philosophical question
our federal and state governments are struggling to address right now with respect to the debate on immigration policy.
The current administration obviously considers Americans a more narrow subsection of neighbors and families in this country than most. And yet, while many of us are very
During ?Black History Month?, more focus is often put on some important contributions to America made by black Americans. And those contributions are important. Dr.
It was for blood, sweat and greed that my African-American ancestores were forced to toil in the fields. Are their descendants "more American"? uncomfortable and offended by those notions and policies associated with the administration, the question still remains for us - what makes someone an American? Is it an all or nothing question? Is it a question of ethnicity? Is it a quantifiable quality of the contributions one makes to better the country? Or is it simply a question of where someone is born? Historically, birthright has dictated our country?s immigration policy does that mean that Native Americans are considered ?more American?, and others less so?
Matilda Arabelle Evans, the first licensed black physician in the state of South Carolina, opened the first hospital for African Americans. Jonathon Jasper Wright, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, is important. Others like Elijah McCoy, who invented and patented steam engine lubrication devices that had tremendous impacts on commerce; or Jan Matzeliger, who invented a ?shoe lasting machine? that revolutionized the shoemaking industry: all of these contributions are important.
For those of us who consider ourselves African-American, and for those of us for whom that is an important part of our identity, what it means to be American can be a difficult question.
And yet, the question remains - is it the African Americans?contributions to the country as a group that makes us a valued member of the American melting pot? Is it solely our personal contributions to our country that
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make us American? It was with battle and brains that our American forefathers and mothers bled their dreams of a just and righteous government into the soil we walk, the water we drink, and the very air that we breathe. They dedicated and gave their lives for ideals of religious freedom and justice, and these contributions to the United States are immeasurable. But does that make these founders somehow ?more American? than others? It was for blood, sweat and greed that many of the ancestors of my African-American brothers and sisters were forced to toil in the fields of this new country that was founded; and at the cost of their humanity, culture, and history. Do these heavy contributions make their descendants somehow ?more American? than others? And what of those of us who are of mixed race? My blood and my family history, like that of many African Americans, is not without its complications - my paternal great grandfather was German with fire red hair and my maternal great
W HO'S AMERICAN? grandfather was an Irish slave owner. I am also descendant of West Indian Africans and Native American. How American does that make me. None of us of are fighting a physical domestic war in the same way participants in the Revolutionary War did - and yet, many are fighting for the heart of government in this country, once again, while many others, many of us who were simply born within our borders, look the other way. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is a program through which the children of illegal immigrants who came into America during a certain time period can sign up to
status? with the federal government that allowed them to legally live, work, and go to school. This program, enacted through executive order by President Barack Obama, has brought peace to many who were anxious about their legality status in the only country they have ever known. These ?Dreamers?, as they are commonly known, abide by our laws, pay taxes, and are held to a higher standard as DACA recipients than most. Surely, historically, they too must be considered American. There is perhaps nothing more American than to dream.
So during this time of distress for many immigrants, DACA recipients, and others fighting for the heart of our nation right now, I want to offer a word of encouragement. A quote from maybe the most famous American dreamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: ?I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant?. During her second term as WLD Chair, Rosalyn ("Roz") ran and won a seat in the State Legislature serving as Spartanburg, South Carolina. To bring her unique prospective on legislation, Roz was immediately assigned to the following legislative committees: Medical, Military, and Public and Muncipal Affairs. Within 9 months of her election, Roz sponsored a bill that protected the rights of nursing mothers returning to work, and she argued in opposition to the defunding of Planned Parenthood, which was defeated. Now Roz is speaking out on immigration.
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MINORITY LAWYERS HAVE A VOICE- BUT THE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW IT! Since the early 2000s social media, has with lightening speed changed the way media outlets have communicated with their audiences and the world. Platforms like Facebook, You Tube and Twitter have turned the average ?Joe? into their own media brand garnishing anywhere from $300,000 to a million a year in ad revenues just from posting ?how to? videos that have gone viral. Social media has made thousands -without a college degree, law degree or even a license to practice anything ? millionaires earning more than what lawyers with all their degrees will ever make in such a short time period. But why hasn?t this phenomena translated to lawyers becoming YouTube ?Rock Stars?? Fir st , the legal industry is the only industry whose business speech is regulated by state bar associations who have for the last decade lagged in their ability equip lawyers 2 WEBSITE.COM/MAGAZINE
to catch-up with the speed of how social media applications can be used by lawyers. Secon d, and most important, law schools do not teach lawyer marketing and branding as an essential aspect of the business of law. Fin ally, the reality is that lawyers simply do not have time to effectively use social media without hiring a full-time social media person, which for many solos, in-house, or non-profit lawyers, the thought of spending at least $3k to do digital media marketing does not make sense. While these factors have hindered lawyers in general from becoming ?You Tube Rock Stars?, minority lawyers are sorely behind the curve due to a lack of encouragement and other extrinsic issues unique to being lawyers of color in the profession. Additionally, most lawyer CLE videos are just down right boring and will never go viral. But this has to change because minority lawyers have the knowledge that is needed to address many of the social ills in our society. But the world cannot hear our voices and the very few national lawyer TV personalities cannot address all the issues impacting our communities.
To help minority lawyers share their voice,, FHG Media Enterprises has relaunched www.MinorityCounselorTV.com -to serve as a single platform where minority lawyers can participate as speakers in fast paced engaging legal talk shows in their practice areas. MCTV contains a national directory that minority lawyers can join so that they can be found by a community that has lost trust in main stream media. MCTV provides each lawyer in the network with their own brandable blog, podcast, video channel and communication tools to jump start their branding and to make their voices heard. MCTV sole mission is to promote and brand the thought leadership of minority lawyers to solve problems for businesses and communities. Starting in September, MCTV will be hosting FREE weekly Br an dU webinars to teach lawyers how to use the platform and how the platform can build their brand and elevate their voice. With this coming election every voice needs to be heard. REGISTER
PUBLICATION TEAM
Ava Greene Bedden Ava Greene Bedden currently serves as an Attorney Advisor with the District of Columbia Government Office of Risk Management. Prior to that, she served as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Petersburg, Virginia. She established Fair Frank Final Professional Services, LLC providing legal and human resources consulting services to a variety of clients in the public and private sector. Ava has extensive experience in labor management and employee relations, and her legal practice covers a broad range of matters. Ava has previously served as the Coordinator of Title IX Compliance at Virginia Union University, Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Director of Admissions with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and General Counsel for Paine College in Augusta Georgia. Ava obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her Law Degree from the Howard University School of Law .Association. Ava is the NBA WLD Parliamentarian and editor of this WLD magazine.
Jo Saint-George Jo Saint-George is an experienced corporate attorney with corporate governance and small law department management experience with expertise in complex commercial real estate and project finance for the retail, petroleum and cement industries. Most recently, Jo served as General Counsel for a foreign global cement company that recently relocated its Virginia head quarters and legal services back to its headquarters in Mexico. Jo was the first African-American female to become a non-equity partner at an Am Law firm in the entire state of Arizona. She was also the first and only African-American female lawyer to defend a catastrophic wrongful death medical malpractice case to trial in complex court. Jo founded the NBA's Arizona Diversity Pipeline Program having raised over $250,000 in scholarships. Jo also developed the Pipeline Programs six week pre-law prep course that resulted in many of the minority law students in the program ranking in the top of their class. Jo also serves as the Legal Redress Chair for the NAACP Montgomery County Maryland Branch where she leads quarterly expungement clinics. Jo has served as a legal diversity advocate for over 20 years and she founded FHG Media Enterprises to help minority and women lawyers to brand and market their unique talents and abilities. Jo is the WLD Member-at-Large and publisher of the layout, design and graphics for the WLD magazine.
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