Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Sept 15, 10
2010 Stars of the Bar Reception
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Thursday, Sept 23, 10
(4430) Networking Happy Hour
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Thursday, Sept 30, 10
(4453) Networking Night Out: Meet & Mingle with Members of the Tax & Business Forum and Solo & Small Practice Forum
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Wednesday, Oct 6, 10
(4415) Top Women in Government: Lunch with Paige R. Atkins
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Tuesday, Oct 26, 10
(4455) The Insider's Guide to Finding and Keeping the Perfect Nanny, and Deciphering Taxes and Payroll
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Welcome!!
Welcome to The Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia

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 Mentoring, Working Parents, Career Development, and Community Projects to name just a few. There is a place for you at the WBA. If you aren’t already a member, become one. This is going to be an exciting year!
 
This year, the WBA will begin to implement its three-year Strategic Plan.  The goal areas of the Strategic Plan include:
• Leadership Development and Succession Planning
• Development and Fundraising
• Member Programming
• Initiative on Advancement and Retention of Women
• Strategic Planning
The WBA leadership will use the Strategic Plan as a guide and tool to ensure the continued growth, relevance, and stability of the organization.  Our members can expect updates on the progress made under the plan.

Click here to read the WBA’s 2010-2013 Strategic Plan.

Further, we will continue the groundbreaking work of the WBA Initiative on Advancement and Retention of Women and our third stage which focuses on advancing women in-house counsel.  This year we will take what we have learned in our recent survey, the March 2010 summit and our third report, “Navigating the Corporate Matrix: Advancing Women in Corporate Law Departments” which you can access here. In addition to our In-House Counsel Forum programming, we will sponsor 2 showcase luncheon programs featuring prominent women General Counsel and women in corporate leadership positions where we will discuss challenges to advancement, the relationship between women in-house counsel and women outside counsel, strategies for success and lessons learned from various career paths. 

Also, the WBA will conduct research, analyze and address issues impacting women in the legal profession such as compensation and leadership issues at the partner level and the value challenge and billable hour discussion.  We will do this through a series of published white papers that will not only be authoritative but also thought-provoking. 

Finally, we will focus on increasing membership in a number of ways, including conducting programs at firms and organizations to introduce the WBA, its mission and the opportunities the WBA offers.  I often say that the WBA’s strength is its membership.  That membership is diverse and active and brings to this legal community an amazing breadth of programming that you can explore on this website.  But we face big challenges and we have even bigger aspirations.  So we need your help.

There is a place for you at the WBA. If you want to know how to get involved, contact me, any Board member or any committee/forum co-chair.

Join me and the rest of the WBA community in continuing the important work of this great organization!
 
Holly E. Loiseau
2010-2011 President

Our Mission
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.

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News and Highlights

WBA will accept applications for consideration for endorsement for DC Superior Court through Friday, October 8, 2010.

WBA Foundation announces application guidelines for 2010-2011 grant cycle The WBAF welcomes proposals that will further its objectives to support disadvantaged women and girls in the Metro DC Region, and is interested in funding a diverse group of projects. Click here for RFP.

Washington College of Law Legal Essay Writing Competition

The Modern American (TMA) announces the American University Washington College of Law (WCL) essay competition, open to all full-time and part-time law students enrolled in and attending an accredited law school in the United States. The competition highlights the status and future of women’s bodily freedom in American policy-making and jurisprudence. The winner of the competition will receive $1,000 and have the opportunity to publish his/her essay in TMA. Essays are due by 12:00 noon on October 1, 2010.  Click here for more information and competition rules and regulations.

Women's Bar Association Fellow
WBA is now accepting applications for our fellowship program. Please click here for more details.

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