The mission of the VWAA is to assist women attorneys in
developing their professional practice and in achieving their
potential, to bring about changes in the law and to affect public
policy for the benefit of the women of the Commonwealth of
Virginia.

The VWAA was formed in 1981 to advance the interests of
women attorneys in Virginia, to encourage their mutual
improvement and social interaction, and to promote the
interests of women under law. The VWAA remains the only
statewide bar association dedicated to the needs of women
attorneys in Virginia as professionals and as women.

Latest Updates on the Web

2010 October Conference at Kingsmill Resort

DIVERSITY AND THE PRACTICE OF LAW

New Clients, New Perspectives, New Challenges

2010 VWAA CONFERENCE

October 1-2, 2010

Kingsmill Resort

Williamsburg, Virginia

The VWAA conference is our premier bi-annual networking and substantive programming gathering for attorneys and other professionals from throughout Virginia.

We focus our conferences on current topics that make headlines and resonate with our Bar and wider community. This year's conference theme is "Diversity and the Practice of Law." Our conferences typically attract 100 or more attendees who are private and public sector attorneys, judges and law professors from throughout the Commonwealth.
The conference will feature exhibitor opportunities, continuing legal education classes, and panel discussion involving judges and attorneys from across Virginia. This year, we also are excited to feature keynote remarks by Mary Frances Berry at our Saturday night banquet. Check back soon for registration information for this event.

For sponsorship of this conference, please click here to download the Sponsorship form.

Leaders in the Law Awards

In October, Virginia Lawyers Weekly will honor leading
members of the commonwealth’s legal community.
Virginia’s Leaders in the Law Awards will recognize leading
attorneys throughout Virginia, based on their accomplishments.

For more information and to download the nomination form, please click here.

Turning Point Suffragist Memorial

The VWAA supports the work of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Committee to help memorialize the efforts of some of our nation's suffragists.  The Memorial Committee seeks to fund and build a memorial to the women who picketed the White House in 1917 and were arrested and imprisoned at the Lorton Reformatory and whose subsequent brutal treatment while incarcerated proved to be the turning point in the women's suffrage movement.  There is no memorial to these women in the United States; a national memorial is long overdue.

An invitation to the kick-off fund-raiser on May 12, 2010 in McLean.  At this event, Helen Thomas will be presented with the 2010 Silent Sentinel Award and the plans for the memorial will be unveiled.

The Memorial Committee is at the start of a journey to raise $5,000,000 to fund the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial which will consist of a garden, initially, and if funds allow, a visitor's center. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Foundation has identified land in Occoquan Regional Park, near the former Lorton Reformatory, where the garden can be sited. The plan is to have the garden fully installed by 2019, the 100 year anniversary of the 19th Amendment  (ratified by Virginia in 1952).

More information about the fundraiser can be found at http://www.suffragistmemorial.org/Events.html#Sentinel. Information about the group and the history of the movement is located at www.suffragistmemorial.org

VWAA ROADSHOW

VWAA is pleased to announce the first annual roadshow.

Check back here on a regular basis for new roadshow topics, dates, and times.

2010 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF VIRGINIA AWARDS

Congratulations to our members who are among the "2010 Influential Women of Virginia." This award, issued by Virginia Lawyers Media, recognizes the outstanding efforts of women in the Commonwealth in all fields, including law, business, health care, education and the arts. The honor is extended to individuals who are making notable contributions to their chosen professions, their communities and society at large. Our distinguished members are:

The Hon. Leslie M. Alden

Fairfax Circuit Court, Fairfax

Deborah Mancoll Casey, Esq.

Vandeventer Black, LLP, Norfolk

Susan Massie Hicks, Esq.

The Susan Hicks Group, Fairfax

Kathleen J.L. Holmes, Esq.

Williams Mullen, McLean

The Hon. Cleo E. Powell

Virginia Court of Appeals, Richmond

The Hon. Ann Hunter Simpson (ret.)

Juridicial Solutions, Richmond

RECENT EVENTS

VWAA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

VIRGINIA WOMEN ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM

The VWAA hosted the annual meeting program at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach this year. 

A brief presentation was given on the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial honoring women suffragists who were imprisoned in the Occoquon Workhouse in Lorton, Virginia.

A Panel discussed issues related to how diverse groups in our communities continue to seek full access to the political process. Thank you to the panel members and the speakers for their contribution to this event.

The VWAA congratulates the Chapter Presidents, who serve on the VWAA Board under the organization’s bylaws:

Hampton Roads         KAREN ZELLO

Loudoun                   ELIZABETH PENDZICH                   

Northern Virginia       KYUNG KATHRYN DICKERSON

Prince William           JANE OLIVER SMITH

Richmond                 COURTNEY VAN WINKLE                    Roanoke                   LEAH GISSY                     

Hampton Roads Chapter

“You Be The Judge” seminar on September 23, 2009

The seminar was very interesting and successful thanks to the Hampton Roads Chapter's distinguished panel (from left to right: Delegate Paula J. Miller, the Honorable John W. Brown, Honorable Michelle J. Atkins, and Honorable Roxie O. Holder). 

Sheila Coston served as the moderator.

The seminar provides lawyers who are interested in becoming judges with an understanding of how the selection process works and helps to put them in a competitive position for a judgeship.

For more information see the Hampton Roads Chapter Page for details

VWAA Fall 2009 Webweavers Conference

September 25-26, 2009

A big thank you goes out to the sponsors, the speakers, the attendees, and the VWAA Webweavers committee who made this event one that will be remembered and talked about for times to come. The conference was attended by more than 65 attendees, who learned, networked, and linked-in with others during this two-day event, while enjoying the beautiful resort and the great dinner at Sunset Hills Vineyard. 

If you are unable to view the slideshow, please try to press <ctrl> F5 or download Windows Media Player.