October's Blog

Joint Event with the Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce: October 9th

Thank you to everyone who has RSVP'd for this exciting joint event, "Bridging the Gender Divide in a Divided Society."  Panelists will include the Honorable Connie Steinheimer; Assemblywoman Jill Tolles; Marily Mora, President and CEO of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority; and Dr. Karin Hilgersom, President of Truckee Meadows Community College.  The event will take place at 5:30 pm at the Chamber, 449 S. Virginia Street. Registration is now closed. Special thanks to the Chamber for providing wine and appetizers.

Member Spotlight: Patricia Halstead
- Bronagh M. Kelly

Patricia Halstead is a fifth generation Nevadan, fourth native born, and has called Northern Nevada home her entire life. Ms. Halstead graduated from Edward C. Reed High School in Sparks, Nevada, and is also a proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno. After graduating from college, Ms. Halstead attended law school in Washington D.C. at American University’s Washington College of Law. After some years in private practice and at the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Halstead opened her own practice in Reno in 2013. Ms. Halstead served as the Washoe County Bar Association President in 2018.
 
We sat down with Ms. Halstead to discuss her experiences and the role of women in the legal profession.
 
How did you become involved in the Washoe County Bar Association, and how do you view the role of women in the organization?
 
The Washoe County Bar Association (“WCBA”) was started in 1905 at a time when not many attorneys were women.  While the records are sparse, many women were members but a female was not part of the board until 1980 when Shirley Smith joined the board and later became President in 1986.  The board is a rotating board where new members sit on the board and rotate their way up.  I joined the WCBA in 1999 and joined the board in 2014 and, prior to that, I served as the WCBA Social Chair.  Many wonderful women were on the board prior to me and the Executive Directors have predominately been women, Gina MacLellan being the current Executive Director.
 
Did you have any female mentors in your early legal career?
 
Not coincidentally, most of my female attorney role models came from NNWLA.  There are certain nuggets of wisdom you hear and sometimes you hear them at just the right time.  I remember several of those times coinciding with NNWLA meetings.  Women have gender specific hurdles by nature of biology as far as children and because of traditional societal roles.  It is invaluable to have women of all backgrounds and experience to draw from in circumventing those hurdles and, if nothing else, to act as a soundboard and to know that you are not alone in struggles you face in the legal profession.  With regard to a particular female mentor, I would be remiss not to mention Barbara Gruenewald who, when I made the leap to solo practice, took me under her wing and made sure I had the skills to fly.  Amy Tirre, who is also a member of NNWLA has aided me since I externed at the Nevada Supreme Court where she was clerking at the time.  My relationships with these amazing women and several others have made me a better attorney and I honor that by paying their kindnesses forward.
 
What changes have you seen in relation to women in the legal profession?
 
It seemed like only a couple years ago when a young female attorney was inquiring of a panel of female attorneys and judges regarding the “rules” for wearing panty hose.  That debate had been going strong since fifteen years prior when I had personally addressed it.  In my mind, Katie Couric stopped wearing panty hose and, therefore, that was the national standard and so could I.  In the end, you sometimes have to make your own way and do what you are comfortable doing, wear panty hose, don’t wear panty hose.  What matters is your skill, dedication, and delivery – none of which panty hose add much to.
 
This year, women in Nevada made in history in a number of ways. Do you see this becoming the norm?
 
It’s a wonderful time in history to witness first-hand the advancement of women in the legal profession.  I had the honor of externing for Justice Miriam Shearing of the Nevada Supreme Court in the summer of 1996.  Justice Shearing was the first and only female Justice at the time, followed shortly thereafter by Justice Deborah Agosti.  This year, women comprise of the majority of jurists in the Nevada Supreme Court.  Also this year, women are the majority of the Nevada legislature.  Judging by the young women I know now practicing, I don’t see this dynamic changing any time soon.  While women may not always be the majority, we have and will continue to ensure our seat at the table.
 
What advice would you give to young female attorneys?
 
Don’t succumb to the imposter syndrome, which female attorneys are famous for.  Once you dig in, you’ll see that you got this.  Not only do you have the skills to succeed as a lawyer but you have the skills to do it along with everything else you have to manage.  Delegate where you can, don’t sweat the small stuff, prioritize, establish and stick to boundaries, and breath.  Remember, “Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, except backwards and in high heels,” as quoted from Bob Thaves.  That’s what your career will feel like when you are being pulled in different directions; but, if you made it this far, you have what it takes and, if you’re reading this publication, you're looking for support in the right place.
 
What do you do in your free time?
 
What free time?  Actually, you must carve out free time.  In my most recent free time I designed and landscaped my home’s yard and am now working on a project lake house along with my husband.  I also have a mini farm that includes a peacock and a peahen; three hens I call “the Girls;” an adopted red-rumped parrot; some office finches that sound like cartoon computers and keep the office from ever being too quiet; a beloved Boston Terrier and German Shorthair; a bunny that was dumped in a park and could use a good home with kids to love her (yes, you need a bunny in your life – hit me up); and a pond full of fish that my husband is obsessed with.  I also have a garden that needs tending but I’m too busy enjoying the rest of the yard.  Life is short.  I can stand to leave a tomato or two for the wild birds.   

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New Admittee Swearing-In Ceremony: October 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

Join the NNWLA in welcoming the new members of the Nevada Bar at the Northern Nevada admission ceremony on October 16th.  The event will be held in the California Room at the Eldorado Resort Casino.

Save the Date: November 20, 2019 for Substance Abuse CLE

NNWLA will be hosting a Substance Abuse CLE on November 20, 2019 at the UNR Innevation Center with presentation by Carol Schaye, a registered nurse and licensed drug an alcohol counselor.

We will be serving lunch starting at 11:45 a.m., so please feel free to arrive early to ensure that we can start promptly at noon. The cost will be $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Please register your attendance here.

Join the 2020 NNWLA Board

The NNWLA Board is seeking volunteers for leadership positions on the 2019 Board. If you are interested in getting more involved with NNWLA and contributing your ideas, time, and talent to this fantastic organization, we want to hear from you! The NNWLA Board and Communications Committee typically meet for 1-2 hours each month to plan CLE events and social opportunities for our members. This is a fun chance to get to know other NNWLA members and direct the future of this organization. For more information about these opportunities, please contact our incoming 2020 President, Kendra Bertschy, at kbertschy@washoecounty.us.

2019 Supreme Court Rule Changes for CLE Compliance

• Effective this year (2019), Nevada attorneys will be required to submit an Affirmation of Attendance and Compliance with Mandatory CLE Requirements with the Nevada Board of Continuing Legal Education.
  
• The Affirmation of Attendance will include the name of each program the attorney attended; the program provider; date(s) attended; program format; and credits earned.
• The Affirmation of Attendance will be completed online at the Nevada CLE Board’s website. Each attorney is responsible for verifying and, if necessary, correcting the information contained on the document, to include adding CLE programs the attorney completed, but which were not reported to the Nevada CLE Board by the provider.
• The Affirmation of Attendance must be completed and submitted electronically on the Nevada CLE Board’s website by December 31, 2019. Failure to do so may result in late fees and administrative suspension from the practice of law.
• The Nevada CLE Board’s website is currently under construction to implement these new CLE rules; please continue to monitor communications from the State Bar of Nevada and the Nevada CLE Board for updates.
• All Nevada licensed attorneys are required to maintain for three years all certificates of attendance, program outlines, agendas, receipts and other evidence of attendance. These records are subject to random compliance audits conducted by the Nevada CLE Board pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 210.

Save the Date: December 14, 2019 for our Annual Shopping Event with Veterans Memorial Elementary School

Please save the date for our Annual Shopping Event. The event is a wonderful opportunity to provide underprivileged children attending Veterans Memorial Elementary School with warm clothes and presents for the holidays.
 
Each $100.00 we raise allows us to shop for an additional child. In previous years we have been able to shop for 50 or more children. Please donate and help us achieve our goal!

We also hope you will consider joining us that morning as a volunteer shopper. Our volunteers are paired with a Veterans Memorial Elementary student and help the child pick out their warm clothes. Most volunteer shoppers are finished in about one hour.  Every year we receive heartwarming feedback from our volunteers about how much they enjoyed their experience. Please email us at nnwla.rsvp@gmail.com if you are able to volunteer.