December 2022 News

A WORD FROM OUR OUTGOING NNWLA PRESIDENT STEPHANIE K. FUNK

​As we near the end of the year, I want to take a moment to thank my 2021 Board for their hard work this year, and thank our members for their support of NNWLA!  It proved to be another challenging year for us, as we continued to have to think outside of the box and limit in person events as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.  Despite the challenges, I am so proud of this Board's accomplishments!  In my farewell note, I wanted to take this opportunity to recap the impact everyone's hard work and support made within our community.
 
NNWLA able to host a variety of speakers this year, who presented on a broad range of topics.  One good thing about Zoom meetings is that NNWLA was able to host speakers who may not normally be available.  In January, Jennifer Rogers-Markwell presented on financial planning with a focus on planning for professional women.  In February, Kelley R. Jones and Kristin Henning knocked it out of the park, with their "It's Not Me, It’s Them"  CLE.  Attendees still say it was one of the best CLE courses they have ever attended.  In November, Kristine Kuzemka presented on substance abuse, and in December, Taylor Altman, Kendra G. Bertschy, and Melissa Exline presented a legislative update.
 
In May, NNWLA collaborated with the Washoe County Law Library for Law Day.  Through this program, NNWLA was able to provide volunteer legal services to our community in the areas of family, civil, probate, landlord/tenant and criminal record sealing.  NNWLA had 13 volunteers (and many more who were on standby and willing to help if needed) who met with 70 participants.  Nearly 25 hours of service on a Saturday morning!
 
NNWLA was also able to host and get together for a few in person social events.  In May, despite the gloomy weather, we had a huge turnout for happy hour at Prost Biergarten.  It was great to be able to catch up with fellow members, and meet many new faces.  In June, NNWLA sent multiple Board Members to San Diego to participate in the State Bar Convention and support our State Bar liaison, Ann Morgan, as she was sworn in as the State Bar of Nevada's President.  We hope to send even more members next year.  In September, NNWLA virtually participated in the ¡ANDALE! Run, the Las Vegas Latino Bar Association’s 5K fundraiser.  Having an active family friendly event was well received, and NNWLA is already working on bringing similar opportunities to you in 2022.
 
As you have seen throughout the year, NNWLA has been raising funds in the hopes of endowing the NNWLA scholarship with the University of Nevada, Reno to promote equality and reduce the gender gap in the legal profession.  Through this scholarship, NNWLA will support undergraduate and graduate students, preferably females, pursuing a degree at the University who intend to attend law school after receiving their degree.  In November, NNWLA received a $25,000 grant from the State Bar of Nevada, which fully endowed the scholarship!!!  We are grateful to the State Bar for it's support, but our work is not done yet.  NNWLA has big plans for 2022 to continue to expand its scholarship opportunities.
 
As we finish off the year, we are sad to be skipping our annual holiday party at Judge Simon's house.  It is undoubtedly the holiday party of the year, but the health and safety of our member's must take priority.  Despite this, NNWLA is still committed to its partnership with Veterans Memorial Elementary School to collect donations for children in need. In previous years, donations were collected and volunteers used the money donated to take students shopping for warm clothes and toys just before Christmas.  As we did last year, because in person shopping is not an option right now, NNWLA has committed to providing $100 gift cards to at least 50 students in need.  WE have not yet met our goal to fulfill this gift and WE NEED YOUR HELP!!  We would be grateful for anything you can contribute.  Donations can be made through our online pay pal or via check made payable to NNWLA mailed Attn: Jocelyn Ostomel, P.O. Box 40953, Reno, NV 89504.
 
I wish you all a happy, safe, and healthy holiday season, and a prosperous 2022!  Thank you again for the opportunity to be the President of the this amazing organization

VOTE ON SLATE FOR 2022 NNWLA BOARD

​The 2022 NNWLA Board is slated as follows:
President: Jocelyn Ostomel
VIce President: Bronagh Kelly
Secretary: Andolyn Johnson
Treasurer: Andrea Nichols
Communications Chair: Briana Collings
Scholarship Chair: Kendra Bertschy
Committee Members: Regina Bradley, Jenna Garcia, Chloe McClintick, Samantha Reviglio, Jennifer Richards, and Pierron Tackes.

Please vote here on the above slate by December 24, 2021. Thank you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 21, 2021

Join NNWLA for a Sex/Human Trafficking CLE. This will be a lunchtime CLE via Zoom. Attendance is free for members and $15 for non-members. Registration will open in the next week on our website. Stay tuned!

February 10, 2021

Join NNWLA for an ethics CLE. This will be a lunchtime CLE via Zoom. Attendance is $20 for members, $30 for non-members, or $40 for a member and a non-member colleague. Registration will open in the next week on our website. Stay tuned!

READING AND ROBES SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Reading & Robes is a community-outreach initiative of the National Judicial College that began in 2019. It involves judges, wearing their robes, reading aloud to younger students from culturally diverse books with themes of justice, fairness, and the law.

The first books chosen for the program were autobiographical works by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. During its first year, more than 1,200 children from third grade to high school attended a Reading & Robes program in Nevada. More than 2,500 copies of “Turning Pages: My Life Story,” “Just Ask: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You,” and “The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor” were distributed, in English and Spanish, to children in Reno, Las Vegas and rural Nevada communities.
 
This program was postponed during the pandemic. But now, the National Judicial College has received funding and is ready to start up the program. Justice Michael Douglas is heading the program and plans bring this program to classrooms in Las Vegas and Reno. He would like to invite a young lawyer to join them. Simply put by Justice Douglas – “the students relate more to younger attorneys.”
 
Therefore, Justice Douglas is seeking support from the Reno attorneys for this program in the North. Please email [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering for this program!

MANAGING HOLIDAY STRESSORS

JOB POSTING

Job Description
The University of Nevada, Reno, seeks applicants for an Assistant General Counsel that reports administratively to the General Counsel.
The Assistant General Counsel litigates on behalf of UNR in consultation with the General Counsel and assists the General Counsel in planning, organizing, and guiding UNR’s legal activities.  The Assistant General Counsel assists in providing advice and counsel to senior academic and administrative officers of the University concerning UNR’s legal rights and obligations.  Scope of the role includes litigation, administrative and regulatory matters, whether in the courts of the State of Nevada or the United States and in all federal and state administrative agencies, client counseling and contracts.
The Assistant General Counsel conducts legal research and advises University officers on matters pertaining to compliance with state and federal laws affecting the University with particular emphasis on litigation, contracts, business and tort law, employment law and dispute resolution, intellectual property, the First Amendment and student rights. The position is also responsible for other such legal or administrative duties as may be assigned by the General Counsel.  Concurrent private practice is precluded. 
The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal skills; personal and professional integrity; knowledge of civil procedure, state and federal laws, relevant law and legal practice, and court procedures; excellent relationship-building skills working with diverse offices and be a team player.
Required Qualifications
Law Degree and five years of related professional experience in civil practice including litigation and contracts
Licensure
Licensure to practice law in the State of Nevada
Schedule and Travel
Variable work schedule
Occasional travel
To apply, please click on link:  https://nshe.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UNR-external/job/University-of-Nevada-Reno---Main-Campus/Assistant-General-Counsel_R0126932

THANK YOU TO OUR OUTGOING BOARD AND WELCOME TO OUR INCOMING BOARD!

From front right, Samantha Reviglio, outgoing Vice President and incoming Committee member; Briana Collings, Communications Chair; Ann Morgan, Nevada State Bar Liaison; Jennifer Richards, Committee Member; Jocelyn Ostomel, outgoing Treasurer and incoming President; Andolyn Johnson, outgoing Committee Member and incoming Secretary; Stephanie Funk, outgoing President incoming President's Advisor; Regina Bradley, incoming Committee Member; Pierron Tackes, incoming Committee Member; and Jenna Garcia, Committee Member. Not pictured: Bronaugh Kelly, outgoing Secretary and incoming VIce President; Andrea Nichols, incoming Treasurer; and Kendra Bertschy, Scholarship Chair. Thank you to all of our hard-working board members for a great year! We are looking forward to working with this group next year!

DON'T FORGET NNWLA'S SCHOLARSHIP

Donate to NNWLA's Scholarship Here!

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