August News

NNWLA President's Message on Racial Justice Issues
          -Kendra G. Bertschy, NNWLA President 2020

Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association stands against discrimination and strives to defeat systemic inequalities.  In addition to advancing women in the legal profession, our mission is to maintain the honor and integrity of the profession, promote and improve the administration of justice, and encourage a spirit of friendship and trust among our members.

As such, we must speak out against attempts to make our justice system unfair or biased in any manner.  The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others have highlighted the historical injustices that plague our society and demand immediate and continued action in our community.  This applies to all areas of our profession.  If we don’t treat all people equally we will never be able to move forward and create a more fair and just community.  As an organization, we stand against racism and systemic abuse in the justice system because that is the right thing to do.  Black Lives Matter.

As the late, great Rep. John Lewis said: “Freedom is not a state; it is an act.  It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest.  Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each generation must do its part to create an even more fair, more just society.” The Northern Nevada Women Lawyers Association encourages all members to consider ways our organization can lead in strengthening the judicial system for our community. 

We are challenging ourselves to re-evaluate what we are doing as an organization to combat injustices and reaffirm our commitment to our core values of diversity and inclusion.  Here are some immediate actions that we are undertaking:

• A scholarship to benefit a student pursuing law with a focus on diversity and inclusion;
• A mentorship program with students in Washoe County; and   
• Focusing our 2021 programs on racial justice and equality issues and including diverse speakers.  

We also encourage our members and friends to join us in determining ways that we can be part of the solution.  We look forward to working with everyone to create a more fair and just society for all of our community members.​

CONGRATULATIONS: 

NNWLA is proud to congratulate our Board Secretary, Bronagh Kelly, who is the State Bar of Nevada 2020 Young Lawyer of the Year! The Young Lawyer of the Year Award recognizes the professional and public service achievements of Nevada attorneys who are under the age of 36 or who have been engaged in the practice of law for fewer than five years. The Board of Governors and Past President Paul Matteoni will present Ms. Kelly with the award at the August 31, 2020 Board of Governors meeting. Please help us in congratulating Ms. Kelly on this accomplishment!  

​NNWLA is also proud to congratulate our member Margaret M. Crowley, who was honored as the Impact of the Year Award Recipient at the 6th annual Justice Innovation Awards ceremony at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) Virtual 83rd Annual Conference, for her work and efforts rethinking, reimagining, and redefining justice for children and families. Read about her recognition here.  Please join us in congratulating Ms. Crowley! 

Upcoming Events:

Due to Covid-19, and the continued restrictions on in-person meetings, we have decided to move the our Jury Selection CLE to November. We will update you with more information as we know more.

Instead, Save the Date for: 

ZOOM HAPPY HOUR: 

• WHEN:     Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 5:30pm  
• ATTIRE:    Dress up and show off your suffragette attire
• DRINK:     Learn how to make "the Suffragette", a drink by our own Ann Morgan (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options) 
• ZOOM:      Register here. 

JUDICIAL CANDIDATE MEET AND GREET:

• WHAT: A one-of-a kind "speed dating" style event where members will have a chance to ask judicial candidates questions in small breakout groups.
• WHEN: October 15, 2020, from 5:30 to 7pm
• Zoom:  Register here. 
• Suggested donation:  $15 to our new scholarship fund, which will be awarded to a student pursuing law with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Donate using PayPal here. 

MORE INFO TO FOLLOW 

Past NNWLA President, Katie Hoffman co-wrote an article with Hardeep Sull, NNWLA and SNAWA: Supporting and Celebrating Women in the Legal Profession. Read it here.