News & Announcements

MWL Seeks 2012-2013 Board Nominations

The 2012-2013 MWL Nominating Committee is currently seeking nominations for the 2012-2013 Board of Directors. New board members will be elected at MWL’s 40th Annual Meeting to be held on May 9, 2012 at Windows on Minnesota in downtown Minneapolis. Terms commence on July 1, 2012.  Nominations are being sought for five (5) Board of Director positions; each are two-year terms. Nominations are also being sought for the positions of President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, each are one-year terms. To qualify, the nominee must be a MWL member in good standing. Candidates for President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer may not be members of the Nominating Committee.

General standards for consideration by MWL's Nominating Committee may include, but are not limited to:

* A candidate's past experience serving on the board of Minnesota Women Lawyers or other organizations;
* A candidate's passion for MWL and past involvement with MWL;
* A candidate's past involvement with other legal and community organizations;
* A candidate's overall career experience, within and outside of the legal community, as it may relate to areas of expertise needed on the board (financial, marketing, banking, business, etc.);
* A candidate's other skills, talents and connections that would be useful for MWL;
* A candidate's ability to commit an appropriate amount of time to the specific board position being applied for;
* A candidate's impact on the overall diversity of the board's make-up, including racial, ethnic, geographic, and practice area diversity;
* A candidate's commitment, conscientiousness and sense of responsibility for tasks;
* A candidate's leadership ability and willingness to use it on behalf of MWL.

Members of the Nominating Committee include:

* Elizabeth Cutter (Chair), Hennepin County Attorney’s Office (Liz.Cutter@co.hennepin.mn.us)
* Dana Bartocci, University of Minnesota Law School (bartocci@umn.edu)
* Heather Diersen, State Auto Insurance Companies (Heather.Diersen@SA-Trial.com)
* Cindy Eidnes, Beacon Hill Legal (ceidnes@beaconhillstaffing.com)
* Cally Kjellberg, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A. (ckjellberg@quinlivan.com)
* Jacqueline Mrachek, Nilan Johnson Lewis (jmrachek@nilanjohnson.com)
* Susan Rhode, Moss & Barnett (RhodeS@moss-barnett.com)

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors or if you would like to nominate another MWL member, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee above . Nominations can be emailed to dpexa@mwlawyers.org or mailed to MWL, 600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 390B, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Submissions must include a letter of interest or nomination letter along with a candidate resume. Nominations and submitting materials must by received in the MWL office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2012.  The 2012-2013 slate of candidates will be announced on the MWL website and in the April 2012 issue of With Equal Right. For more information, contact the MWL office at 612/338-3205 or Nominating Committee Chair Elizabeth Cutter at Liz.Cutter@co.hennepin.mn.us.

MWL Accepting Nominations for 2012 Annual Awards!

For complete details,including how to apply and deadline dates for all awards listed below, go to: http://www.mwlawyers.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=58

• Myra Bradwell Award - The Myra Bradwell Award is presented to an MWL member who expresses the highest ideals of the legal profession and who possesses the qualities exemplified by Myra Bradwell such as courage, perseverance, and leadership on issues of concern to women.
  

• Leadership Award - The Leadership Award recognizes legal employers throughout the state who strive to enhance the status, influence and effectiveness of women lawyers in their employ. MWL will accept nominations on behalf of employers who design and implement projects, initiatives, policies and plans with the specific intent of securing the full and equal participation of women in the legal profession. The leadership award will honor and recognize legal employers who take objective steps and measures that reflect MWL’s mission and advance women in the profession. All legal employers in Minnesota are eligible.

• Equal Justice Award - All Minnesota Law Students are invited to submit papers or articles they have written on a topic involving LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. ALL TOPICS RELATED BROADLY TO LAW, LIBERTY, JUSTICE, AND EQUALITY ARE ELIGIBLE, WHETHER OR NOT RELATED TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS OR FEMINIST THEORY. The writer of the selected article or essay will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000.00 at MWL’s 40th Annual Meeting.

• Service to MWL Award -  This award recognizes a MWL member, group of members or 100% club member whose efforts during the past program year have contributed substantially to advance MWL’s mission. Except for the current MWL Executive Committee, all MWL members or groups of members are eligible for consideration for the Service to MWL Award. The MWL Executive Committee will serve as the selection committee for the Service to MWL Award, and have final authority to choose the annual recipient. The Award will be presented at MWL’s 40th Annual Meeting.

MWL Community Action Committee Hosts Annual Girl Scout Law Day

The MWL Community Action Committee hosted its fifth annual Girl Scout Law Day on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Moot Court Room at Hamline Law School.  The Law Day event provides a unique opportunity for girls to learn about the legal system and legal careers. Girls heard from a number of distinguished speakers, including long time state representative Alice Hausman (DFL-Saint Paul/Falcon Heights) and Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Natalie Hudson, and they served as jurors as well as the players in a mock trial presided over by Hennepin County Judge Kerry Meyer alongside one of the girls.

“Girl Scout Law Day is always an inspiring event,” said Veena Iyer, co-chair of MWL’s Community Action Committee. “The girls develop a fuller understanding of our legal system and realize that they can play a vital role in shaping it for the better.”

MWL Congratulates Former President M. Jacqueline Regis

Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of M. Jacqueline Regis as a District Court Judge in MInnesota's 4th Judicial District.  Ms. Regis, former Minnesota Women Lawyers' President, 2000-2001, is currently Senior Associate General Counsel at UnitedHealth Group, Inc.  Minnesota Women Lawyers extends its sincere congratulations to Ms. Regis.