The Atlanta Bar Association’s Women in the Profession Section is dedicated to furthering the practice and perception of law, with a focus on issues unique to women in the practice. Throughout the year, the Women in the Profession Section (WIP) hosts networking events during which women lawyers can interact and develop support systems. WIP also organizes continuing education courses, community service opportunities, and other substantive programs. Here is a look at some of our previous events, plus programs we to look forward to this spring:

The Women in the Profession Section kicked off its 12th board year with a networking social on October 5th at Six Feet Under in West Midtown. Later in October, WIP, in partnership with JAMS Mediation, held its annual program on mediation-related issues. This year’s theme was “Diversity and the Power of Understanding.” The event included a panel discussion and reception at JAMS Atlanta. On December 12th, WIP held its holiday party at the home of the Honorable Susan Edlein, State Court of Georgia. The section, in association with the Atlanta Bar’s Public Interest Law section, hosted the judicial panel “Long and Winding Roads to the Bench” on January 9th at Manuel’s Tavern. (Thank you again to Judge Susan Edlein, Judge Sara Doyle (Court of Appeals of Georgia), Judge Joyette Holmes (Magistrate Court of Cobb County), and Judge Catherine Salinas (United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia) for helping make this event such a success). Also last month, WIP and Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Health Law Unit held a breakfast CLE at the State Bar of Georgia on wills and advance directives. WIP is excited to share that several of the trainees have already volunteered to take pro bono cases.

WIP is off to a strong start, but there are plenty more events to attend to this spring. On March 8th, WIP is hosting a games night and networking social at Ormby’s in West Atlanta. Also this spring, WIP will be partnering with other Atlanta Bar Association sections for a joint social – stay tuned for details! On May 5th, the Women in the Profession Section will be participating in the Susan G. Komen of Atlanta Race for the Cure 5K at Lenox Square. To register, visit http://komenatlanta.org and look for the team name “Women in the Profession & Breast Cancer Legal Project.” Finally, WIP will honor a Woman of Achievement at its annual awards luncheon in June. The section will be taking nominations soon – look for the announcements on social media!

Membership in WIP is open to all legal professionals, in all age groups and career stages. Our membership represents a variety of practices, from civil to criminal, judges and government lawyers, partners and law students. Annual dues are just $30; visit atlantabar.org for more details. To receive the latest WIP updates and event details, you can follow us on Facebook  @AtlantaBarWIP, on Twitter @AtlantaBar using the hashtag #WIP, or on LinkedIn at “Atlanta Bar Women in the Profession Section.”

Thank you to our sponsors Exponent, JAMS and Huff, Powell, Bailey. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the 2017-2018 board year, please email WIP Chair Kimberly Charles at kdcharles@atlantalegalaid.org.

Women in the Profession Section 2017-2018 Board of Directors:

Kimberly Charles, Chair

Megan Hodgkiss, Chair-Elect

Lisa Liang, Treasurer

Laurie Rashidi-Yazd, Secretary

Taylor Tribble, Immediate Past Chair

Kristy Barnhart, Member at Large

Meredith Carter, Member at Large

Jenny Case, Member at Large

Sarah Siedentopf, Member at Large

Emily Ward, Member at Large

Sarah White, Member at Large