Dear WBA Community,

It is an honor to serve as President of this remarkable organization. For generations, the WBA has been a place where women lawyers find professional development and leadership opportunities, mentorship, and lifelong support. I am proud to continue building on that legacy alongside our Board, co-chairs, members, allies, and community partners.

We are navigating a moment of significant change in the legal profession. Technology and artificial intelligence are transforming the way we work. Longstanding efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion are being challenged. And the principles underlying our legal system are being tested in new ways. At the same time, barriers to and inequities within the legal profession persist. Women, and especially women of color, continue to face disparities in recognition, compensation, expectation, and advancement.

In moments like these, it is critical that women understand and celebrate the unique value we bring to this profession. That value cannot be replicated by technology, diminished by shifting priorities around us, or defined by systemic biases that continue to exist.

This year’s theme, Know Your Worth, serves as both a reminder and a call to action to recognize our value and embrace our impact.

Knowing your worth means understanding that our value extends beyond productivity and efficiency. It lies in the uniquely human qualities that technology cannot replicate: judgment, empathy, creativity, resilience, integrity, and courage. Those are the types of qualities that define exceptional lawyers.

Knowing your worth is trusting in the power of our voice even in times of uncertainty. When diversity efforts and core professional ideals are challenged, it becomes even more important to remain confident in the value we bring and lead with conviction.

Knowing your worth also means refusing to let persistent inequities define our value or shrink our sense of purpose. As we work toward a more equitable profession, it is essential that we advocate for ourselves and support one another.

The WBA continues to recognize and champion the tremendous value women bring to the legal community. Through our programming, mentorship, networking, and community-building efforts, we empower women to connect, lead, and grow. And through our advocacy efforts, we remain committed to elevating and advancing issues that impact the success of women in the legal profession. When we know our worth, we not only elevate our own careers—we shape a stronger, more inclusive future for this profession.

To our members, past leaders, sponsors, and allies, thank you for making the WBA what it is today. To those who are new to our community, we welcome you to join us and get involved. No matter your experience level, practice area, or career path, there is a place for you here.

I look forward to all that we will accomplish this year. Together, let’s recognize our value and fully claim our worth.

With gratitude,

Rachel Davakis
WBA President, 2026-2027