International Women's Day 2021

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Event Type:Seminar

When:08/03/2021 

Venue:Online

Cost:Free 

Overview
SRA Competencies: A2, A5, C3

International Women’s Day on 8 March is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.

In 2021 the Law Society will mark the year slightly differently to previous years, with a virtual event where we will be launching our joint Law Society and Bates Wells International Women in Law report "Practical Toolkit for Women in Law". This webinar will highlight and disseminate the report's key findings and recommendations. 

This report reinforces the findings of the 2019 Law Society report 'Advocating for Change: Transforming the Future of the Legal Profession through greater Gender Equality', that there are still considerable challenges for women's progression in the legal profession. This report suggests a series of activities that can be undertaken by individuals and organisations to continue striving for gender equality. One of the key findings is the importance of law societies and bar associations in taking robust leadership for accelerating transformative changes on this area within their own jurisdictions.

Written under extraordinary circumstances generated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the report addresses the unparalleled set of challenges currently being faced by woman around the world. The report also highlights that there has been greater flexibility and more agile working resulting from the 'working from home' policy, which has contributed to changing attitudes towards working from home that has been made feasible and manageable due to technology. But this has also led to an increase in home-based burdens. Therefore, it is important to establish boundaries between home and work, which have become more blurred; so, a careful approach is needed. Sexual harassment continues to be a stubborn scourge in many workplaces, but that most women avoid talking about this issue due to the stigma attached and for fear that they will not be believed or will suffer a backlash for speaking out.

Learning objectives

This webinar will offer an opportunity to learn about;

• Findings of the joint Law Society / Bates & Wells report on support mechanisms for women lawyers around the world
• Challenges faced by women lawyers internationally
• Strategies for improving gender equality in the legal sector
• Sharing tools and best practice
• Male champions for change
• Women leadership in law

This event is also:

• An opportunity to learn more about the Law Society's international women in law programme work and to find out how to get involved
• An opportunity to learn about the role of lawyers in upholding gender equality from a panel of experts 
• A virtual networking opportunity

Who should attend

• Members from all practice areas of law  particularly with a public interest, human rights, or international dimension 
• Lawyers at any stage of their careers both UK based or international

WOMEN'S COMMISSION 2020 BIENNIAL REPORT AVAILABLE NOW

The Washington State Women’s Commission published its first biennial report on Monday, 26 July 2021. The report highlights the work undertaken by the Commission in its first two years and presents recommendations to the legislature and Governor’s Office to address issues of economic security, economic opportunity, safety, health, and racial equity.

In June of 2018, Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2759 into law, establishing the Washington State Women’s Commission. The Commission is tasked with gathering data and providing policy recommendations to the legislature and executive branch regarding issues disproportionately impacting women, ensuring more equitable opportunities and participation by dismantling systemic barriers.

To spearhead the Commission’s work, the Governor appointed a diverse group of women leaders from the private sector, public health and healthcare, the justice system, community-based organizations and nonprofits, and labor.  Since their formation, the Commission has met with legislators, issue experts, community leaders, and stakeholders across Washington state to collect input for recommendations on improving equity, access, and participation for women in all areas of endeavor.

Their first biennial report provides a review of the Commission's work since its establishment. The report serves to:

· Introduce Commissioners and Commission staff;

· Outline the critical issues that women in the state of Washington face, including childcare access and affordability, pay inequality, racial disparities in health and healthcare delivery, violence against women, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women;

· Summarize the priorities and past work of each of the Commission subcommittees, in partnership with businesses, professionals, and community organizations across Washington state; and

· Present policy recommendations for consideration by the legislature and executive branch as well as those in the private and non-profit sectors.

“We are immensely grateful to the leaders, experts, advocates, and everyday community members who have shared their research, work, and lived experiences with the Commission,” said Regina Malveaux, Director of the Women’s Commission. “This report represents just the beginning of our work. We look forward to further conversations and partnerships in our continued efforts to ensure every woman and girl is healthy, safe, prosperous, and empowered to achieve their full potential.”

The full report is available on the Commission's website, at www.wswc.wa.gov.

The Office is now accepting applications from 3Ls and Judicial Clerks of qualifying courts to apply for an Assistant Attorney General position via the 2021 Honors Program! The deadline to apply for a permanent AAG position via the Honors Program is August 22, 2021. 

10% off registration with discount code!

Join leading women lawyers from across the United States and abroad at the National Association of Women Lawyers’ 2021 Annual Meeting. NAWL will recognize and honor leading lawyers who have made a significant impact to improve and diversify the legal profession, as well as NAWL members who, through their time and effort, have made exceptional contributions to fulfilling NAWL's mission. In addition, you will have the opportunity to participate in interesting substantive programming along with plenty of networking opportunities. Through programming around this year’s theme of renew, reimagine, revitalize, you will leave inspired to reach new levels of success in your practice. Washington Women Lawyers members receive a 10% discount on registration by using code 21AMWWL. Click here to register.

CLE Credit Activity ID: 1172379

When: Jul 27, 2021 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Incorporating Race Equity into Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Litigation: Part 2

Register in advance for this webinar (free to all):

https://aclu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h6PMAlDXRwODvVQSB7cXRg

• The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is proud to unveil the newest tool for retaining women in the profession and helping them thrive: a 21-Day Grit and Growth Mindset Challenge. The 21- Days of Grit and Growth Mindset was created by the ABA Antitrust Law Section's Women. Connected committee and ABA Commission on Women in the Profession Grit committee. 

•  

• ·         The 21-Day Grit and Growth Mindset Challenge is composed of 21 short daily activities (typically 5-15 minutes) to build knowledge and acquire tools to develop grit and a growth mindset. The Challenge is designed for all women working in the legal profession or supporting the legal profession. People can participate on their own, or form a group to unpack the challenges and learnings together.

The 21 Day Grit and Growth Mindset Challenge kicks off on Monday, June 7, 2021.

Introducing the Gritty Teams Research Study!  We invite you to participate in a survey designed to measure the effectiveness of gritty, growth mindset-oriented teams and to further explore how leaders, emerging leaders and team members can encourage, nurture and develop these traits in the team context. The survey can be accessed here: americanbar.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_207iHMytKqo2ZVk

In prior Commission research, the results of which can be found here, we explored the impact of grit and growth mindset on the success of individual women lawyers and found that both were critical tools that helped women sustain high levels of performance while working in law firms of all sizes, in-house roles, non-profit and government positions, or as solo practitioners. Because the practice of law is and always has been a true apprenticeship profession-one where effective collaboration among lawyers is essential-we are excited to be able to broaden this research to learn more about how these traits drive success on teams.

The survey will take roughly 10-15 minutes of your time. Results from this survey may be used to provide the legal profession with a deeper understanding of factors that contribute to team success. It is our hope that it may also help organizations continue to close the gender gap at the leadership level by providing women lawyers with additional strategies and tools that will help them thrive as both team members and team leaders. 

As you complete the survey, please remember that there are no right, preferred, or wrong answers. Your candid responses to the survey questions will help us learn more about these important traits and how we might leverage them in the future. The deadline to complete the survey is June 18th, 2021.

Please note that the information you provide will be used for research only and will be kept strictly confidential. All survey responses will remain in the sole possession of the American Bar Association. Once your individual results are combined with other outcome metrics, all identifying information will be eliminated. Neither you, nor your employer, will ever be identified for any reason. All study results will reference aggregate data only.        

Many thanks in advance for your participation in this important research initiative!      We are looking for a gender-diverse pool of respondents, so please forward to the male allies in your network.

Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC),the Metropolitan Planning Organization and Regional Transportation Planning Organization for Spokane County, is requesting Proposals from qualified attorneys interested in serving as SRTC’s legal counsel. Specific expertise is sought from firms that have experience advising a public Board in areas relating to contract law, municipal law, state and federal grant requirements, the Washington Open Public Meetings Act, and the Washington Public Records Act. Statements from interested firms are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Responses can be delivered electronically to ggriffin@srtc.org. Full information about this solicitation is available at www.srtc.org/news-and-notices.

You are invited to join MAMA Seattle for our upcoming CLE

Allyship and the Legal Profession in 2021

When: Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 12:00-1:15 PM

Program Access: As a co-sponsor for this event, MAMA Seattle is offering 35 prepaid tickets to MAMA members (non-MAMA members who sign up will be separately invoiced). Tickets will be provided to the first 35 RSVPs. RSVPs beyond the first 35 will be put on a waitlist. NOTE: If you RSVP but learn you are unable to attend the event, please let us know as soon as possible (email: cle@mamaseattle.org), so that we can offer the ticket to another MAMA member on the waitlist.

Where: Zoom link will be sent directly from BASF, on the day of the event.

Topic:  With Covid-19, #BLM and #metoo, the world is no longer the same and the legal industry will no longer operate in the business-as-usual ways that have promoted gender and racial disparity in the past. 

It is no surprise that male lawyers out-earn their female counterparts.  However, it is important to recognize disparities amongst women lawyers.  According to the ABA’s 2020 Report, Left Out and Left Behind, while Asian and white women lawyers make 85 and 77 percent of what their white male counterparts earn, the statistics are even worse for Black and Latina women lawyers.   Black and Latina female lawyers earn 61 and 53 percent of what their white male counterparts earn.  Feminism must recognize intersectionality, and white and Asian women must be cognizant regarding issues of race in order to achieve a more equitable legal industry for women as a whole. 

How can we, as white and Asian female law firm owners and managers, empower other attorneys, especially Black and Latina female attorneys, to take control of their future, enjoy freedom, gain business autonomy, improve their mental health, and make (more) money by starting their own law firm?  Or for those attorneys who are not as entrepreneurially inclined, how can we as support and encourage our Black and Latina female lawyer friends ascend to positions of power in their existing law firms?

Join us for this exciting roundtable discussion where we will discuss these topics and more in an informal setting.

Topics will cover:

• Why recognizing racial disparity in law and pursuing meaningful allyship is so important in 2021;
• How these women-founded law firms are leading the way in allyship so as to support other women, minorities, and/or intersectional individuals in the ownership of law firms and, more broadly, in the practice of law.; and
• What has worked versus not worked in terms of diversity and inclusion efforts, and what needs to change in order to achieve more racial and gender parity in law.

Speakers and Moderator:  Panelists include Sophie Alcorn of Alcorn Immigration Law, Amanda Conley of Brand & Branch, Valerie Fenchel of Fenchel Family Law, and Valerie Kushel of VGK Law.  Panel moderated by Lindsey Mignano of Smith Shapourian Mignano.

CLE Registration

See you there!

CLE Registration

Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association

www.MAMAseattle.org

SABAW united with our national organization SABA North America, SABA Foundation, and 26 other SABA chapters in the US and Canada to launch a Coordinated Campaign Supporting COVID Relief in India: https://www.sabalegalfdn.org/indian-covid-relief. 

All individual donations that we receive at the link between May 10 and May 31, 2021 will be used to support reputable charitable organizations fighting COVID in India, of which UNICEF will be the first one.  All donations should go to the SABA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and will be tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. We are still in the process of vetting non-sectarian organizations and any additions to the charity slate will be announced publicly.  

The current surge is overwhelming Indian health care infrastructure: patients are not able to access hospital beds and oxygen is in short supply. We named UNICEF and its Indian Humanitarian Rush Aid relief efforts as the first charity in our fundraising efforts because it is on the ground, working with partners to deliver urgently needed medical equipment, PPE, hygiene supplies and critical care to those in need. UNICEF’s Office of Innovation has been focused on Oxygen Therapy as a key component of its effort to save lives of children. As a result, UNICEF has been able to procure 15,000 oxygen concentrators as part of its COVID-19 response, helping more than 90 countries across the world. UNICEF (USA) has already shipped 3,000 oxygen concentrators to India last week.

The ongoing crisis in India requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.  As South Asian American attorneys across the U.S. and Canada, the members and supporters of SABA Foundation, SABA North America, and local SABA chapters feel a special obligation to help in any way we can. Please share this information with your friends and community (social media links below). Together, we can make a difference.

Social media to retweet/reshare/repost:

Twitter Post: https://twitter.com/SABALegalFDN/status/1391755153393422336?s=20

LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6798008890442309632

Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/SABANorthAmericaFoundation/photos/a.135045666909020/1501945290219044