Founded in 1917, the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia is one of the oldest and largest voluntary bars in metropolitan Washington, DC. Today, as in 1917, we continue to pursue our mission of:
Maintaining the honor and integrity of the profession; promoting the administration of justice; advancing and protecting the interests of women lawyers; promoting their mutual improvement; and encouraging a spirit of friendship among our members.
In furtherance of our mission, the WBA has 25 Committees and Forums focused on 10 areas of law, every sector of employment, including Solo & Small Practice, Corporate Counsel, Government and Non-Profit, as well as a number of general interest groups such as Working Parents, Career Development, and Community Projects to name just a few. The WBA offers something for everyone. If you aren’t a member, become one. This is going to be an exciting year!
This year, our Committees and Forums will continue to provide a wide array of timely programs. Additionally, our Executive and Judicial Endorsements Committee will continue its work of endorsing qualified women and men who share the WBA’s mission for executive and judicial appointments. Likewise, the Amicus Committee will continue to identify opportunities to weigh in on cases that address issues of importance to our members.
This year, the WBA will also focus on addressing the needs of our members and the DC community created by the current economic crisis. Our profession has experienced unprecedented job losses this year, leaving many of our colleagues unemployed. Further, many organizations dedicated to serving the less fortunate in our community find themselves without sufficient resources to accomplish their missions.
In an effort to meet these needs, we will enhance our focus on career development for all attorneys, but particularly those who have been displaced as a result of the economy. We will also step up the WBA’s long-standing commitment to community service. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our members and the citizens of the community in which we live and work.
We will also continue the conversation begun in 2006 through our nationally recognized Initiative on the Retention and Advancement of Women. The first two phases of the Initiative took an in-depth look at the barriers to women’s advancement in law firms as well as the unique barriers that women of color face in law firms. We issued two ground breaking reports in conjunction with each of these phases, Creating Pathways to Success and Creating Pathways to Success for All.
In the coming year we will expand upon the great work of the Initiative by launching a third phase directed at our colleagues in corporate counsel positions. We will identify the challenges to advancement that our in-house colleagues experience and develop solutions for overcoming those barriers.
If you aren’t already involved, get involved! Join me and the rest of the WBA community in continuing the important work of this great organization!
Consuela Pinto
2009-2010 President
