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The Offi cial Journal of Minnesota Women Lawyers

Summer 2017Volume XLVI, Issue I

Table of Contents02 From the President

04 Imagining a Balanced Life

05 Choosing Your Own Wellness Path and Leaving the Junk Miles Behind

06 Eat Frogs and Sweep the Attic: Three Ways to Improve Your Day

07 Well-Being in the Legal Profession: The Case for Hope

08 The 2017 Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture

10 Legislative Update on Clean Water in Minnesota

11 100% Club Spotlight: Brown and Carlson

12 Amicus Brief Update: Order to Review the Rules of Admission

14 MWL Members on the Move

18 MWL Committee Fair & Summer Social / Opportunities to Get Involved

In This Issue:Wellness

MWL is Pleased to Welcome 2017-2018 President

Kendra Brodin

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As I write my first “From the President” arti-cle, I’d like to start by thanking each and every member of Minnesota Women Lawyers for the opportunity and honor of serving as President of MWL for the coming year. I’m humbled and excited for everything that is to come in the next 12 months.

Welcome to the Big Tent

The theme for the coming year is one of a “big tent” as we take steps to ensure that MWL is as inclusive and relevant as possible. Women attorneys in the state of Minnesota are different in many ways, but we come together because of at least one significant attribute we share in common – our identification as women lawyers. Under that “big tent,” MWL members represent different: -Ethnic and racial backgrounds -Career and professional paths -Sexual orientations and gender identities -Practice areas and types of organizations -Geographic locations -Years of experience and generations In the coming year, we will be taking a look in the mirror as an organization to be certain that we are embracing and serving all of the current and potential members of MWL. Our MWL membership is consistently at about 1,200 members year after year, despite the fact that

there are more than 11,000 women attorneys in the state of Minnesota. There is great opportu-nity for growth and service to women who have yet to experience all of the benefits MWL has to offer.

Upcoming Events and Exciting Initiatives

Under our big tent this year, MWL will host our two signature events: the Rosalie Wahl lecture on November 9, 2017 and our Annual Confer-ence (details to be announced shortly).

At the Rosalie Wahl lecture, we will welcome Lauren Rikleen Stiller. Lauren is a nationally recognized speaker and consultant on women’s leadership, unconscious bias, and the multi-generational workplace. She is president of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership and Executive-in-Residence at the Boston College Center for Work & Family in the Carroll School of Management. Lauren is the author of several books, including Ladder Down: Success Strate-gies for Lawyers from Women Who will be Hiring, Reviewing, and Promoting You (2016) and Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women’s Success in the Law (2009.) Lauren will be challenging us to push the envelope in our organizations to start making real change in gender equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We are on the cusp of confirming and announc-ing the keynote speaker for our Annual Confer-ence. Stay tuned, as you won’t want to miss the amazing line-up of speakers and networking opportunities!

We have several new and continuing task forces and initiatives working in the coming year to help MWL better serve its current members, at-tract new members, and lay a strong foundation for the future: -Diversity and Inclusion Focus Group -Corporate Counsel Task Force -Staffing Task Force -Strategic Planning Task Force

-Partner Leadership Council (PLC)

With the leadership of these task forces, our committee chairs/co-chairs, and all of the MWL members who are taking action to build an even stronger MWL for the future, we continue to consider how we can increase our relevance, service, and value to all constituencies of MWL.

Life Balance

The theme for this issue of With Equal Right is wellness and work/life balance. It feels ap-propriate in a year for MWL where we hope to accomplish so much that we also remain self-reflective as an organization and as individuals to balance that activity and action with rest and restoration.

Over the past several years, I’ve spent a great deal of time contemplating, writing about, and striving for work/life balance, and I’ve discov-ered that I struggle with the term “work/life balance”. The term “work/life balance” suggests that “work” and “life” are two separate, distinct things. It implies that when someone is engaged in “work”, she cannot also be really “living.”

I don’t know about you, but I can’t separate myself that cleanly. I’m always all of me – an attorney, a mother, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a volunteer, and so many other things. True, my focus may not be on all of those roles at the same time, but there are certainly times when I need to pivot from one role to another with a moment’s notice or when I am wearing two “hats” simultaneously.

I appreciate how Boris Groysberg and Robin Abrahams noted in their March 2014 Harvard Business Review article “Mange Your Work/Manage Your Life;”

“Work/life balance is at best an elusive ideal and at worst a complete myth, today’s senior ex-ecutives will tell you. But by making deliberate choices about which opportunities they’ll pursue and which they’ll decline, rather than simply reacting to emergencies, leaders can and do en-gage meaningfully with work, family, and com-munity… They also vigilantly manage their own human capital, endeavoring to give both work

From the President

Welcome to the Big Tent

By Kendra Brodin2017-2018 MWL President

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2017-2018 MWL Board of DirectorsPresidentKendra Brodin, Merchant & Gould P.C.

President-ElectShannon Harmon, IRS, Office of the Chief Counsel

SecretaryAmy Taber, Prime Therapeutics

TreasurerBreia Schleuss, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

Past-PresidentConnie Armstrong, McGough Construction

Board MembersSusan Gallagher, Gallagher Law Office, LLC

Emerald Gratz, Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Kristin Haugen, KC Haugen Law, Rock Solid Consulting

Poonam Kumar, DLA Piper LLP Michelle Looby, Gustafson Gluek

Brooke Nelson, Bernick Lifson, P.A. Alona Rindal, U.S. Bank National Association

Jennifer Robbins, MADEL PA

Sarah Rohne, University of Minnesota Law School

Mary Szondy, Attorney at Law

Chapter Liaisons Central Chapter Anna Finstrom, Rinke Noonan

St. Croix Valley Chapter Amy Schmidt, City of Bloomington Northeastern Chapter To be announced South Central Chapter To be announced Law Student LiaisonsMitchell Hamline School of Law: Caroline Moos University of Minnesota Law School: Ellen Hunt

University of St. Thomas School of Law To be announced

Staff Debra Pexa, Executive DirectorHannah Zuercher, Membership and Communications Coordinator

and home their due—over a period of years, not weeks or days.”

Consider thinking of “life balance” like climate change instead of weather. Weather is day-to-day; climate change considers how weather plays out over time. There are days when my focus may look skewed toward one role over another, but my goal is to make sure that, over time, my attention and time allocation reflects my priorities and personal vision of life balance.

Imagine yourself trying to keep your balance while standing on one foot. If you are like me, you do okay for a few seconds. Then you start to veer a bit to the right, and you need to compen-sate by pulling to the left. A bit later, you start to teeter and lean to the left, at which point you focus a bit more energy on your right side.

That’s life balance. We try to stay centered and bal-anced. Despite our best efforts, sometimes we lean one way or the other. Sometimes work needs a bit more focus; other times family or friends need our energy. If we can flex and flow with the many roles we play, while always remembering to take care of ourselves and our strong, center core, we can accomplish some semblance of life balance. Your life balance looks different than mine; mine is different than yours. We respect each other’s differences and unique life situations, and we support one another. Once in a while, when we are standing on that metaphorical one foot, we completely lose our balance. We jerk to the right, stagger to the left, and then grab for a wall,

for a chair, for something to keep us from fall-ing. In that moment, when you lose your balance and need someone or something to grab onto to regain balance and perspective, I hope you will think of your sisters-in-law at Minnesota Wom-en Lawyers. MWL exists to support the success of women attorneys, and united we can stand much stronger than we can alone. Let’s feel free and vulnerable to reach out our hands to one another when we lose our balance knowing we will be there to catch one another. We are in this together. g

Kendra Brodin serves as Client Development Manager at the intellectual property law firm of Merchant & Gould, connecting with current and future clients to help them determine how to best protect their great ideas and innovations. Kendra provides business development coaching and direction to the firm’s 110 attorneys, eight regional offices, and the firm’s practice and industry groups. Prior to joining Merchant & Gould, Kendra served as the Executive Director of a leading staffing and recruiting firm in Minneapolis as well as Director of Career and Professional De-velopment at St. Thomas School of Law. For several years prior to those roles, Kendra provided private coaching and consulting services related to issues impacting law firms and lawyers with a focus on supporting women lawyers. Kendra received her law degree with honors from the University of Minnesota School of Law, her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, and her bachelor’s degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois with summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors. Kendra is married to the Rev. Dr. Ryan Brodin, and together they have three children.

About Kendra

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Judge Susan R. Miles has been a 10th District Court Judge chambered in Washington County since being elected to an open seat in 1996. She is a past president of Minnesota Women Lawyers and the Minnesota District Judges Association and is an assis-tant instructor of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing.

Yet while we are busy trying to slay dragons, we may be ignoring all the beauty around us and forgoing the chance to be aware of whatever else, positive or negative, is arising in the present moment. Recognition of that positive experience can go a long way toward offsetting the other junky stuff we confront in a day. Recognition of the not-so-positive can lead to a sense of wisdom and perspective. As Arianna Huffington said in her book “Thrive,” looking at present awareness allowed her to recognize “the stress of over busyness, overworking, over connecting on social media and under connecting with ourselves and with one another.” This is the recipe for stress.

But as observed by noted psychologist William James, “the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” Even maxed out lawyers are capable of cultivating the discernment and wisdom it takes some fraction of the rumination and planning inherent in our busy lives and profession with a sense of balance, and even moments of happiness. Given the fact that our negative mental habits are ingrained early on, it takes time and work to change them, but maybe not as much as you might think.

The foundation of a balanced life lies in harnessing the wisdom that arises from moment-to-moment awareness of self-sabotaging thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness meditation is a proven approach to cultivat-ing present awareness, and is practiced by millions around the world, of all different faiths and religions. Indeed, anxious lawyers now have their very own book, called “The Anxious Lawyer,” by Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford. They write that people, including lawyers, take up mindful-ness meditation for a wide variety of reasons, including stress or anxiety management, improvement of productivity and focus, letting go of unwanted habits, dealing with difficult events, and seeking meaning and self-knowledge.

The practice of mindfulness meditation ultimately changed my perspec-tive on the conditions of my life, and as a result, life itself (and indirectly, the lives of others who have to put up with me). And I certainly am not alone. Anecdotally, and now empirically, evidence leads to the conclusion that committed meditators are happier people.

So what exactly is involved in a mindfulness meditation practice? Simply put, a “meditation practice” involves sitting in stillness for a period of time every day and focusing your attention on, alternatively, your breath, body sensations, sounds, thoughts, and emotions. In just a few weeks of daily sitting, you should be aware of your mind’s reactions to these experiences. Most importantly, you can become aware of being lost in any trains of unproductive, self-defeating thought. Being aware of these states of mind is the first step towards recognizing the color they bring to events in your life. Unchecked trains of thought result in stories we believe unflinchingly - for example, “my suffering will never abate.” Recognition of being lost in this downward spiral of thinking gives you the ability to “snap out of it” and change your perspective to one which is more firmly grounded in reality. And then to take the time to notice the positive feelings that arise from the hug, the food, the shower, and kind-nesses extended to you throughout the day. All that is required is time and commitment.

In the end, a balanced life goes further than simply carving out a piece of the day to run or do yoga. It involves developing the awareness and wisdom to face what comes your way realistically, taking in events with discernment, and living a life unembellished by stories created in our own heads. A balanced life is free of delusion and open to reality. It comes from knowing that suffering inevitably comes and goes, but that when greeted with an unvarnished mental perspective, the negative remains in its proper place and allows space for the positive to gain equal ground. Simply put, it is a new way of being, for the benefit of ourselves and our loved ones. g

By Judge Susan Miles

Imagining a Balanced Life

What if at least once a day, you could hug your spouse/child/pet with complete awareness of your feelings of affection? What if at least a few moments a day, you could garden/cook/eat/shower with complete and contemporaneous awareness of the pleasant sensations of dirt/smells/tastes/warmth? What if at least once a week you could say no, without guilt, to a request for a meeting/project/errand with awareness that you need that time for your own solitude and reflection? What if at least twice a week, you could see your own anger/irritation arising in an interac-tion with a family member/professional colleague and acknowledge it to yourself before reacting?

Before reading on in haste, choose a couple of thoughts from this list which particularly resonate with you. Reflect on your choices, one at a time (hopefully you are in a distraction-free zone). Imagining the experi-ence of each choice, note any concurrent sensations in body and mind. Now, imagining actually experiencing your choices on a regular, if not frequent basis, does it begin to feel like you may be able to change your outlook on life for the better, even if you can’t make the most pressing stressors go away?

Just a few days ago I was meeting with a panel of jurors after receiving their verdict in a civil case. Giving them a chance to de-brief, ask ques-tions, and bring closure to their experience. One of them spontaneously piped up, “Judge, we really appreciated how fun you made this for us!” And, with the concurrence of her panel members, she whipped out sev-eral examples. Sheepishly accepting these compliments, I later reflected on the fact that absolutely NO ONE would have said this to me or about me in the first 7 or 8 years of my judicial career, let alone my previous legal career. What changed?

Before answering that question, let me be the first to say that my experi-ence is not unique - either my state of suffering and misery at the front end or my current sense of greater balance and more wholesome perspec-tive. So read on, suspending any disbelief that without changing a single uncontrollable stressor, you are capable of creating a greater sense of in-ner peace and cultivating your own inner wisdom to meet life’s inevitable challenges with grace and a healthy perspective.

Generally speaking, as lawyers we are caught up in a lot of drama, and sometimes trauma, arising from uncontrollable events affecting ourselves and others. At times we are expected to fix the unfixable. Ruminating about these problems and planning how to solve them is second nature to us. Naturally most of us occasionally suffer the consequences of our own fear and doubt that the task is achievable. Yet we strive ahead, as that is our stock in trade, often bearing the personal residue of any associated “yuk” factor.

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Choosing Your Own Wellness Path and Leaving the Junk Miles Behind

You are empowered to define and guard your own wellness, too. You can resist the need to add more and more to your list, but instead challenge yourself to add better. I wish I had space here to get into what this means for our sleeping, eating, and working habits—although, I am still very much a work in progress when it comes to these things.

When it comes to exercise, though, I will say this: I am not going to go through the laundry list of tips we have all heard about adding your work-out to your calendar like a meeting or finding a gym buddy, or setting your watch to beep at you to raise your standing desk. Just, no. We know these things and I, for one, have heard them enough.

Here is my wellness advice when it comes to moving your body: We live in an amazing fitness community here in the Twin Cities. There are gyms that have developed workouts based on science that get you in and out in fifty minutes! There are running paths that are plowed before your streets in the winter! There is So. Much. Yoga. I know there are barriers for some of us that are significant—finances, kids’ schedules, injuries. Fitting a workout in is not easy. It’s worth it—but it’s not easy. But, even so, we are empowered every day to choose what wellness means for us. Choose your wellness, own it, and be present for it. It will look different every day. It will not always be logging miles or flowing through chaturanga. In carv-ing out the time, though, and remaining true to how and when your body wants to move and work, you will leave whatever number of minutes you can devote a different person and a more clear-headed friend, mom, and attorney. Leave the junk miles for someone with more hours in the day. g

Kristin Zinsmaster is an associ-ate at Jones Day in Minneapolis, practicing in the areas of criminal and white-collar defense, internal investigations, and complex civil litigation. She is a 2007 graduate of UMD and a 2010 graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School. Outside of law firm life, Kristin is a founding member of CycleHealth, a nonprofit dedicated to kids’ health and wellness, and is a certified yoga instructor. She looks ridiculous at a standing desk and hopes to see you around the Lakes.

If I have learned one thing over my career as an attorney and my life as an athlete, it is this: I have got no time for junk miles.

Let me back up. I think I was asked to write an article about wellness for With Equal Right because over the course of my time in law school and in practice at large law firms, I’ve managed to keep a commitment to the gym, the yoga studio, and the running paths. There is a bit more to the story that I hope to impart.

I came to the University of Minnesota Law School in 2007, fresh off a collegiate career as a distance runner. I had competed in four seasons each of cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track at UMD, in Du-luth, earning a few honors along the way and molding myself into what I thought a serious runner needed to be. I had a practice of running a marathon or two each year, and nothing—nothing—was going to get in the way of my daily workouts. Not even the Socratic method.

Running did keep me grounded in law school. It got me outdoors and kept me marginally social. But it led to jam-packed days and an endless list of things I felt I had to accomplish, too. Because that’s the trick, isn’t it? How do we—in particular, the solid proportion of us women lawyers with Type-A brains—keep our workouts about wellness and not about obligation? It’s hard enough to fit the workouts into our days, let alone allow them to remain fun and energizing!

During my second year of law school, I discovered yoga. One would think that the ancient practice would have shifted my fitness focus to a place of true wellness. Yoga certainly changed my body and healed a whole bunch of overuse injuries. It changed my mind over time, too. But, at first it became another thing I needed to do to—FIND BALANCE. Check. Sound familiar?

This brings me back to the concept of junk miles. In distance running, there are a lot of training theories. When to do distance and at what pace; when to do speed and at what intervals. When to hit 70-mile weeks and when to taper. What works is different for everyone, but there is one truth: at a certain point in each training cycle, you reach the point where more is not better. These are the junk miles. You do not need them to improve; in fact they cause injury, mental fatigue, and eventually burn-out. You do them because you feel an obligation that you cannot quite explain—because doing more is so appealing. We tell ourselves, more will certainly lead to great success.

I know you see the metaphor here. I used to do a whole lot of junk miles—on the pavement and, figuratively, in the gym and the studio and even in the office. I do not have the time in my day or the space in my head any longer to do those junk miles. And in the long process of cutting them out of my life, my workouts have become about wellness.

By Kristin Zinsmaster

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Good attorneys make their bread and butter by bringing strong resolve amidst highly tense situations. Most clients expect a certain degree of level headedness from their attorney. Every year there are stories of at-torneys who lose their cool under pressure- like an attorney who threw her coffee at opposing counsel mid-deposition 1, or another attorney that caused a mid-Atlantic flight diversion 2.

Although some of this bad behavior may stem from a misunderstanding of what it means to be a “zealous” advocate, attorneys are regularly rated as some of the most stressed-out professionals. This often presents itself through depression, alcoholism, and health issues. Recent studies 3 by the American Bar Association and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation suggest that 28% of attorneys struggle with depression, 21% of attorneys are problem drinkers compared to 6% of the general population, and 19% demonstrate symptoms of anxiety.

Successfully dealing with the stress and pressures of lawyering requires a daily effort that enables equanimity. Based on my novice attempts to build maintainable habits and avoid burn-out, these three strategies are sure to improve even the most stressful day in the life of a lawyer.

“Eat Your Frogs” First

Mark Twain was once quoted as saying, “Eat a live frog every morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” To the extent you have control over your day, do the worst or most challenging task on your to-do list first. Your afternoon self will thank you.

Give Yourself a Mental Hug

Negativity bias is a real thing. Psychologists are discovering that negative experiences stick in our brains like Velcro, and positive experiences are resisted like Teflon 4. Negativity bias likely helped our ancestors survive 5 by helping our brains to remember to avoid negative consequences while positive experiences were met with a mental “shrug.”

While negativity can be useful in making persuasive arguments that stick6, attorneys are overwhelmingly prone to some of society’s most negative interactions. For positive experiences to outweigh the negative, they have to occur much more frequently than negative ones, generally at a ratio of five good experiences for every bad one. To offset negativity, take a second to give yourself a mental hug. Acknowledge the positive. It may help to take short breaks throughout the day to do something that makes you happy, take a leg stretch, or grab a coffee. Making a mental notes of some things that make you grateful may improve your health 7. Short breaks are also shown to boost productivity 8!

Sweep Your Brain Attic

Sherlock Holmes likens his brain to a mental attic that can get overcrowd-ed with too much furniture. Mental overcrowding may have a real impact; surgeons receiving too much information may make medical errors that impact patient safety 9. Attorneys who attempt to multitask too often, can drop deadlines and impact clients’ claims 10.

Mindfulness can be a powerful tool to sweep away some of the clutter. Just be. It sounds so simple but the impacts are very real. Studies have shown that mindfulness can alleviate symptoms of mental and physi-cal disorders 11. An easy way to practice mindfulness is to return to your breath. Apps like Calm, Headspace, and 10% Happier are a good start.

While we all work diligently to honor our clients needs and those of our employers, its important – now more than ever – to practice self-care to sustain careers in a field with increasing demands. After all, “Any intel-ligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direc-tion.” – Albert Einstein g

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1. Ross Todd, “Opposing Counsel Flung Coffee at Him During Depo, Litigator Says” The Recorder, July 19, 2016 http://www.therecorder.com/id=1202763070533/Opposing-Counsel-Flung-Coffee-at-Him-During-Depo-Litigator-Says?slreturn=20170526095337 2. Staci Zaretsky, “Biglaw Partner Gets Wasted on Plane, Causes Mid-Atlantic Flight Diversion” Above the Law, July 23, 2015 http://abovethelaw.com/2015/07/biglaw-partner-gets-wasted-on-plane-causes-mid-atlantic-flight-diversion/?rf=1 3. “ABA, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Release First National Study on Attorney Substance Use, Mental Health Concerns” Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, February 3, 2016 http://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/about-us/news-media/press-release/2016-aba-hazelden-release-first-study-attorney-substance-use 4. Rick Hanson Ph. D., “Stephen Colbert: We Don’t Need to ‘Keep Feer Alive’” Psychology Today, October 13, 2010 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-wise-brain/201010/stephen-colbert-we-dont-need-keep-fear-alive 5. Rick Hanson Ph. D., “Confronting the Negativity Bias” Psychology Today, October 26, 2010 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-wise-brain/201010/confronting-the-negativity-bias 6. Kenneth D. Chestek “Of Reptiles and Velcro: The Brain’s Negativity Bias and Persuasion” Nevada Law Journal, August 21, 2014 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2484911 7. Jane E. Brody “A Positive Outlook May Be Good for Your Health” New York Times, March 27, 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/27/well/live/positive-thinking-may-improve-health-and-extend-life.html 8. Julia Gifford “The Rule of 52 and 17: It’s Random, But it Ups Your Productivity” The Muse, htt-ps://www.themuse.com/advice/the-rule-of-52-and-17-its-random-but-it-ups-your-productivity 9, John W Beasley, MD, Tosha B. Wetterneck, MD, MS, Jon Temte, MD, PhD, Jamie A Lapin, MS, Paul Smith, MD, A. Joy Rivera-Rodriguez, MS, and Ben-Tzion Karsh, PhD “Information Chaos in Primary Care: Implications for Physician Performance and Patient Study” The National Center for Biotechnology Information, February 24, 2012 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3286113/ 10. Dan Browning, “Minnesota Set a New Record Last Year for Punishing Lawyers”, Star Tribune, July 1, 2016 http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-set-a-new-record-last-year-for-punishing-lawyers/385278981/ 11. Rinske A. Gotink,Paula Chu,Jan J. V. Busschbach, Herbert Benson,Gregory L. Fricchione, and M. G. Myriam Hunink “Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Over-view of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RTC’s” The National Center for Biotechnology Information, April 16, 2015. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4400080/12.

Eat Frogs and Sweep the Attic: Three Ways to Improve Your Day

Tara Kalar is an associate in the Minnesota Department of Trans-portation Office of Chief Coun-sel. She handles civil rights and aeronautics matters. When she isn’t stressing over work, she is practic-ing jiu jitsu, gardening, or running after the ice cream truck.

By: Tara Kalar

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Well-Being in the Legal Profession: The Case for Hope

This issue of With Equal Right is about well-being in our profession. What do you think of when you hear the term well-being? “I just don’t have time.” “I should be able to handle things and if I can’t it’s my fault.” “You just do it.” “I can do it all.” “I can’t do anything about it.” These are among the answers I receive when I ask the question. We will address some barriers to our well-being and some options for overcoming them.

Think about why you went to law school? To see that justice was done? To be intellectually challenged? For financial security? To make a dif-ference? Or, like many women lawyers, because someone discouraged or encouraged you (I experienced both). One recent law student survey, conducted by the Dave Nee Foundation, reveals that 61% see law school as a path to leadership, 60% want to serve other people and 87% believe law is a way to contribute to society in a meaningful way. Most of us want to make a difference. Numerous factors contribute to whether we feel we are making a difference in a way that matters to us. Those same factors can contribute to how we feel about ourselves as attorneys.

I expect few of us thought we would be always happy and fulfilled with an ability to get everything done in an orderly manner and with time to spare – at least not every day. I hope that most of us have some very good days, which can include solving frustrating problems. Days that are not so good and some that are just mundane, of course, offset them. Unfortunately, for some lawyers, too many days are highly stressful and the demands seem to exceed what we can offer. We internalize this, isolate and end up as part of the alarming statistics about lawyer substance use and mental illness. According to a 2016 ABA/Hazelden Betty Ford study, 21% of us drink in unhealthy ways. 28% of us have experienced depression and 18% have experienced anxiety during our careers.

As lawyers, we look for the worst possible outcomes. That internal fist pumping and shout of “yes” when we find something wrong that reso-nates with us. The better pessimist we are, the more successful we can be as a lawyer, right? Law may be the only profession that succeeds because its practitioners anticipate the worst that might happen. In one study, those law students who held more pessimistic attitudes experienced greater academic success. The pessimist not only sees what can go wrong, but also is more likely to view bad things as permanent and unchange-able. This negativity also arises from disparaging comments about lawyers from society and the ways lawyers talk to and about each other. Comments and views from the outside may be a tool that is deliberately used by others to belittle the profession and diminish the impact of the work of lawyers, but that does not change the impact it can have upon an individual. Unfortunately, in a profession where any weakness is ex-ploited to further a lawyer’s cause, lawyers strive to show no vulnerability. All of this negativity coupled with a fear of demonstrating any weakness

stand in the way of our hope for well-being. And it can be a trigger for mental health issues.

Disorders involving depression, anxiety, substance use and others issues are serious. Stress may paralyze us. When experiencing problems at this level, the first step may seem insurmountable. That’s where LCL can help. LCL offers four free counseling sessions for lawyers, judges, law students and their immediate family members throughout Minnesota. This coun-seling may or may not be enough to resolve a problem but LCL can be your first call. LCL will help you understand the issues and identify next steps including appropriate referrals for additional focused assistance.

These serious issues typically do not occur overnight, so let’s look at some ways to change our perspective and direction. There is a broad expanse between well-being and distress. Law will be stressful as we strive to do the best we can for clients who are often traumatized and hurting. Let’s recognize and acknowledge sometimes this stress inspires us to do our best work. However, if we do not have a way to return to a baseline, we experience chronic stress. This impacts our productivity, creativity and state of mind. We already know lawyers are more at risk and chronic stress can trigger depression, unhealthy substance use and other mental health issues.

Can we change it? Not all at once, but perhaps a step at a time. We look for the worst that could happen, so let’s change our view. We can find the best potential solution to a problem by understanding its depths. That is what our clients seek – not just the problems, but also the options. We make our living as lawyers because someone has a problem or an issue. We can choose our practice focus, where we market and whether we take a case, but we cannot create the cases that come to us. So we become reactive. We wait. This applies to our own well-being too. We cannot just wait, but must affirmatively do something when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Sometimes a crisis or a major wake-up call is the trigger. Sometimes an “aha moment” is the catalyst, and that moment can occur when we learn that we are not alone in wanting a change.

With the release of the ABA/Hazelden study, we are at a turning point. In collaboration with a number of other organizations, the ABA has cre-ated a National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being which will release its report before the end of 2017. It will make strong and practical recom-mendations about what should change in our profession. Drawing on the work of the World Health Organization and others, the report will define well-being in a multi-dimensional context of mental health as critical to complete health. The profession can make some changes – it will be slow as changing the direction of an ocean liner always is. Individual lawyers, as leaders in their organizations and for themselves, must also be com-mitted to the changes that will reduce our risk for these serious problems. Our opportunities fall into three main categories: willingness to person-ally be open to well-being, willingness to encourage and accept well-being practices in others, and willingness to embrace well-being in our profes-sion. Each of these could engender their own article and we will focus on the personal perspective.

In The Anxious Lawyer, Jeena Cho and Karen Gifford equate these oppor-tunities with the concept of compassion. They recognize that compassion for ourselves is sometimes the most difficult. Humans have a natural ten-dency to feel compassion but this may get lost in the realities of practicing law. We connect with our clients based on the legal problems in their lives and may minimize the impact this has on us. We can remember a friend or family member telling us of a difficult time and how strongly we felt compassion for them. That same story, told by us, doesn’t have the same result. Feelings ranging from self-doubt to self-loathing may arise. Just as we can look at our client’s difficult situation as a chance to understand and solve a problem, can we translate this feeling for ourselves? (Article Continues on Page 9)

Joan Bibelhausen is Executive Director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. Joan received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and is admitted to practice in Minnesota. She has sig-nificant additional training in the areas of counseling, mental health and addiction, diversity, employ-ment issues and management. She has spent more than two decades working with lawyers who are at a crossroads because of mental ill-ness and addiction concerns as well as work/life balance, stress and related issues.

By Joan Bibelhausen

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Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL) is pleased to announce the 2017 MWL Ro-salie Wahl Leadership Lecture to be held on the evening of Thursday, November 9th, 2017 at the Marriott City Center in downtown Minneapolis. The general reception and silent auction will begin at 5pm. Dinner will begin at 6pm, and the program will begin at approximately 6:30pm.

MWL is honored to welcome Lauren Stiller Rikleen as our Wahl Lecture keynote speaker. Lauren’s remarks are entitled: Pushing the Envelope to Achieve Gender Equality: Moving Beyond Boundaries.

Lauren is a nationally recognized expert on developing a thriving, diverse and multi-generational workforce. As President of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership, Lauren conducts workshops, speaks at confer-ences, retreats, and professional events, and provides training programs focusing on: strengthening multi-generational relationships in the work-place; women’s leadership and advancement; and strategies for minimiz-ing the impacts of unconscious bias. Among her many awards and accolades, Lauren will receive the 2017 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, presented by the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession at the ABA’s Annual Meet-ing in August. This prestigious award was bestowed on our own Justice Wahl in 1991.

The Wahl Lecture will also feature a silent auction to benefit MWL Foun-dation’s Law Student Scholarship Fund. Donations to the silent auction are welcomed.

Complete details and registration are available on the MWL website (www.mwlawyers.org). For more information, contact MWL Executive Director Debra Pexa (dpexa@mwlawyers.org or 612/338-3205).

More About Lauren Stiller Rikleen (View her complete biography at www.mwlawyers.org).

Lauren is the author of You Raised Us - Now Work With Us: Millennials, Career Success, and Building Strong Workplace Teams. This widely ac-claimed book provides a nuanced perspective and rebuts old stereotypes about Millennials, offering practical recommendations for all generations to strengthen workplace relationships and promote organizational excel-lence.

Her most recent book is Ladder Down: Success Strategies For Lawyers From Women Who Will Be Hiring, Reviewing, And Promoting You. The advice and strategies offered in Ladder Down evolved from the chal-lenges identified in Lauren’s first book, Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women’s Success in the Law, a ground-breaking book that details institutional impediments to women’s advancement in the legal profession and offers concrete recommendations for change.

As a former law firm equity partner, Lauren managed a diverse environ-mental law practice, bringing her strategic and negotiating skills to her clients’ enforcement and compliance problems. Lauren also brings an extraordinary background of leadership positions in professional and community organizations to her work at the Rikleen Institute.

----------- The Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture was established on the occasion of Justice Wahl’s retirement from the Minnesota Supreme Court. The goal of the lecture is to honor Justice Wahl, by recognizing women leaders who have broken ground, while pointing the way for women who will follow. The series features women whose decisions and abilities inspire the leaders of tomorrow, just as Justice Wahl inspired so many of us.

Date: Friday, November 10, 2017 Time: 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Location: Lindquist & Vennum (2000 IDS Center, 80 South 8th Street, Minneapolis)

After presenting the keynote address at MWL’s Wahl Lecture on Thurs-day evening, Lauren Stiller Rikleen will join us again to facilitate an interactive conversation that will leave us with actionable steps we can each take to address those barriers that have impeded equitable career development and pay equity. This unique workshop will focus on what we, as a community of lawyers, can specifically do within our organiza-tions to promote institutional change by identifying allies, understanding the specific internal barriers that need addressing, and implementing the changes needed to level the playing field.

CLE credit will be applied for. Complete details and registration are available on the MWL website (www.mwlawyers.org).

Special Thanks to our Workshop Host:

The 2017 MWL Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture

Lauren Stiller Rikleen

A “Next-Day” Interactive Workshop:Pushing the Envelope to Achieve Gender Equality: Leveling the Playing Field

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Well-Being in the Legal Profession: The Case for Hope (continued from page 7)

Taking care of ourselves physically and emotionally can take many forms. In addition to some of the examples elsewhere in this issue, lawyers are engaged in many programs and practices to improve well-being. Meditation and mindfulness (in many forms including a mindfulness group at LCL), yoga, tai chi and other movement based practices and recovery programs such as AA, Al Anon and Women for Sobriety are among them. Individual coaches and counselors can be great partners in finding our way to a place of well-being. Web-based resources can also provide excellent tools. My favorite is the Authentic Happiness site created by Dr. Martin Seligman and others through the University of Pennsylvania (www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu). Under the questionnaires tab you will find many options that will tell you more about yourself and what brings you meaning and the opportunity for well-being. Jeena Cho’s many writings about mindful-ness in the law may be found at www.theanxiouslawyer.com. The key is that we be willing to look internally and take action and be willing to acknowledge for ourselves and others that being a lawyer and experiencing a sense of well-bring is not only acceptable, it is the next right thing.

Joan Bibelhausen is Executive Director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. LCL provides free and confidential peer and professional support to lawyers, judges, law students and their imme-diate family members on any issue that causes stress or distress. There is someone to talk to 24 hours a day and counseling is offered throughout Minnesota. You can help us reduce the stigma about improving lawyer well-being. To learn more or get involved, go to www.mnlcl.org, call 651-646-5590, or email help@mnlcl.org.g

Solo and Small Firm Summer Social Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2017 Time: 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Bonfire Woodfire Grill (850 Grand Ave, St. Paul) Committee Fair and Summer Social Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2017 Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Location: Stinson Leonard Street LLP (150 South 5th Street, Suite 2300, Minneapolis)

Solo and Small Firm Practitioner GroupDate: Friday, September 8, 2017 Time: 9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Location: 8120 Penn Ave South, Bloomington

Legal Wine Lovers Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2017 Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Location: Shindig (105 South 5th Street, Minneapolis)

Rosalie Wahl Leadership LectureDate: Thursday, November 9, 2017 Time: 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Location: Minneapolis Marriott

Wahl Lecture : Next Day Interactive WorkshopDate: Friday, November 10, 2017 Time: 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Location: Lindquist & Vennum (2000 IDS Center, Minneapolis)

Additional seminars and events will be scheduled in the coming months.

Visit www.mwlawyers.org for complete event details and registration.

2016 Rosalie Wahl Leadership Lecture guests

MWL’s Upcoming Calendar of Events:

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A Legislative Update on Clean Water in Minnesota

By: Elizabeth Wefel

As an attorney and lobbyist for Flaherty & Hood, P.A., Elizabeth represents clients at the Legislature and before administrative agencies in bonding, environmental, energy, land use reform and tax-related issues. As chair of a local Senate District organization, Elizabeth is an active member of the Minnesota political community. Rounding out her service experi-ence, Elizabeth serves on the Metropolitan Council’s Land Use Advisory Committee, and the St. Paul Neighborhood Star Board. Eliza-beth graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Macalester College in St. Paul and magna cum laude from the University of Min-nesota Law School, where she was a member of the Minnesota Law Review editorial board.

Governor Dayton has sought to make protecting and improving the water quality of Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and streams a signature piece of his legacy. The buffer program that his admin-istration created in 2015 is at the core of that legacy. The buffer program has stirred contro-versy as it nears the implementation deadlines. As reported in the last issue of With Equal Right, the GOP-controlled Legislature proposed significant changes to the buffer program. On May 12, the governor vetoed the initial omnibus environmental bill. In the closing weeks of session, key legislative leaders and the governor’s office negotiated in earnest on a compromise. On the second to last day of the regular session, a new omnibus environmental bill was passed that the governor did sign the following week. The most meaningful change contained in this bill is a provision that will allow qualifying landowners an eight-month delay to the 2017 deadline.

Most of the other drastic changes contained in the first version of the bill were removed. Here’s a summary of the compromise changes contained in the final version of the law: •Expanded solution options. The law will allow a wider variety of alternative practices for compliance with the law. The practices will still require approval by the state or local soil and water conservation district.

•Weed-free seed mix. Persons planting buffers must use only seed mixes that the Department of Agriculture has verified as preventing contamination with noxious weeds, such as Palmer amaranth. The earlier require-ment of using only Minnesota grown seeds was removed.

•Compliance waivers. The compromise recognizes that weather conditions and other circumstances will now allow all landowners to install buffers in time to meet the November 1, 2017 deadline. Landowners may file a compli-ance plan for their property that would allow them until July 1, 2018 to comply.

•Additional funding for counties and watersheds. The tax and environmental bills authorized aid to counties and watersheds that assume jurisdiction for enforcing the buffer laws.

Most of the other proposed changes, such as narrowing the definition of covered waters, smaller buffers for non-lakeshore properties, and 100% landowner reimbursement, were all dropped out of the final bill. g

Editors Note: This article is a follow up to Elizabeth Wefel’s featured article in the Spring 2017 issue of With Equal Right.

MWL Summer Survey

MWL surveyed our members to find out their favorite ways to spend time off in the summer months. Solitude at the cabin? Family road trip? Running a mara-thon or long walks with the dog?

Here’s what a few MWL members said: “I use the summer months to spend as much time outdoors as I can, whether it is paddling in the Boundary Waters, biking to work, swimming or spending time in backyards with family and friends. Time in nature is restorative and reflective and absolutely necessary.” -Amy Schwarz, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

“My greatest stress reliever is yoga- in particular I enjoy Vinyasa at the Yoga Studio in Plymouth or “C2” at Corepower Maple Grove. I try to go with a friend for account-ability and camaraderie. With work and chil-dren it is very hard to find time for oneself but it is worth it!” -Margaux Soeffker, Esq., Terzich & Ort, LLP

“My favorite way to reclaim my sanity and/or to relieve stress is to work in our yard/gardens, pulling weeds, getting certain plants to “mind,” planting new flowers and then sitting on the deck watching the birds and butterflies enjoy the flowers (while I enjoy a glass of wine). “ -Amy Taber, Prime Therapeutics

“I love this time of year when it’s warm and broad daylight at 6:00 A.M.! It makes it so convenient, easy, safe and comfortable to just open the back door and go! It feels great to start the day with those extra steps, and my Fitbit reminds me how fast they add up. Rising and walking instead of rolling over is definitely the way to roll in the summer-time!”-Jan Ballman, Paradigm Reporting & Captioning

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100% Club Spotlight: Brown and Carlson

Standing: Elizabeth Chambers-Brown, Autumn Capelle Hoag, Penny F. Helgren, Kathryn M. Perlinger, Paula A. Larson, Tracy M. Borash Seated: Kristin Driscoll Nervig, Carrie I. Jacobson, Gina M. Uhrbom, Kathryn L. Babb Not Pictured: Julie A. Williams, Suncica Sejdinovic, Erica A. Weber, Elizabeth Holden Hill

By: Elizabeth Chambers-Brown and Suncica Sejdinovic

Elizabeth Chambers-Brown is a Shareholder who has been with Brown & Carlson since 2010. Suncica Sejdinovic is an Associate Attor-ney who has been with the firm since 2016.

“The power I exert on the court depends on the power of my

arguments, not on my gender.”

-Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

Brown & Carlson was founded in 1992. Our vi-sion was to build a law firm that would provide high-quality, collaborative and pragmatic work-ers’ compensation defense representation to companies in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Twen-ty-five years later, Brown & Carlson has grown to become the largest workers’ compensation defense firm in the State of Minnesota - with 29 attorneys, most of whom practice primarily in the area of workers’ compensation defense.

Brown & Carlson’s success is based not only on the quality of our legal representation but on the personalities of our attorneys and staff and our relationships with our clients. We seek to attract attorneys who have a solid work ethic and are engaging and enthusiastic about their work. We also understand the importance of achieving a work-life balance and recognize that our long-term success as a law firm is not based solely on the number of hours we bill but on our reputation in the community. We strive to create a law firm environment where people want to work and succeed in their practice. This results in very little turnover of our attorneys and staff, which in turn helps us to build long-standing relationships of trust with our clients.

Brown & Carlson is also committed to pro-moting diversity in the workplace. 25% of our equity shareholders are women. Of our 29 Attorneys, nearly 50% are female. Additionally 67% of our support staff is female. Our senior female attorneys actively mentor newer female attorneys to encourage their personal and pro-fessional growth in their practice areas. We are proud that Brown & Carlson creates an environ-ment which encourages women to succeed. We

encourage our female attorneys and staff to pursue training and marketing opportunities to help them advance. We also allow our attorneys and staff flexibility in their work schedules in order to meet the needs of their families while maintaining their legal practice.

Brown & Carlson has extensive experience representing clients at every level of the Work-ers’ Compensation court system, from handling Administrative Conferences at the Department of Labor & Industry, hearings at the Office of Administrative Hearings, jury trials in District Court, to cases before the Workers’ Compen-sation Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court. We represent our clients pre-litigation, and at every phase of the litigation, through the end of the appeal phase to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Although workers’ compensation defense is the majority of our practice and our central focus, Brown & Carlson also has attorneys who practice in other areas, representing insur-ance companies and their insureds in all types of claims arising out of automobile accidents, including claims arising from third-party, liability, Uninsured motorists, Underinsured motorists; and Personal Injury Protection (No-Fault). Attorneys at Brown & Carlson also have experience in pursuing the subrogation rights of our insurance clients. One area of particular expertise at Brown & Carlson is the recovery of workers compensation benefits paid as a

result of third-party liability. Brown & Carlson understands that pursuing a successful subro-gation recovery requires a somewhat different approach than defending cases. Successful pursuit of subrogation recoveries requires that our attorneys act aggressively and efficiently in a manner that moves the claim forward, while ensuring the maximum “net” recovery for our insurance clients. We also have experience ad-vising and assisting in employment law matters, employer liability, insurance coverage disputes, products liability and casualty losses.

Our membership in the Minnesota Women Lawyers 100% Club is very special to the firm, as it reflects Brown & Carlson’s philosophy of promoting equality and diversity among its attorneys. We are proud of our history and will continue to support and promote our women attorneys as they progress in their professional careers. g

For more information about Brown & Carlson P.A. please visit our website at http://www.brownandcarlson.com.

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Amicus Brief Update:Order to Review the Rules of Admission

As an update to my last article informing of MWL and several other bar organizations’ Request for Leave to File Amicus Brief in Support of Peti-tioner In re Application for Admission to The Practice of Law of Kathleen Reilly, (No. A17-0377), I want to share the most recent events.

You may recall that the petitioner requested a review of the Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners (“Board”) denial of her application for admission to the Minnesota bar without examination as authorized under Rule 7A of the Minnesota Rules of Admission to the Bar. While the Minnesota Supreme Court by its Order, dated May 18, 2017, denied the petitioner’s request, the concerns expressed by MWL in its filing with the Court have fortunately been recognized.

On the same date the court denied the petitioner’s request, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a separate Order Regarding the Rules of Admission to the Minnesota Bar directing the Board to not only review Rule 7A, but also its’ October 2013 policy statement explaining its interpretation that the phrase “engaged in the principal occupation” in Rule 7A. Specifically, this Order requires the Board to examine both the requirement under Rule 7A that to be engaged in the practice of law as a “principal occupa-tion” one must, pursuant to the Board’s policy, have practiced law “full-time or substantially full-time (at least 120 hours or more per month).”

Further (presumably in recognition of the position advanced in MWL’s request to file an amicus brief) the Order mandates that the Board con-sider “whether and if so how these requirements and policies should treat part-time legal work and periods of parental leave,” instructs the Board to “solicit input from interested organizations and individuals,” and give consideration to “similar admission rules and/or policies in other states.” Pursuant to the Order, the Board has until June 1, 2018, to file a report and recommendations regarding its review with the court.

MWL is pleased by the Court’s Order to the Board and plans to reach out to the Board in an effort to continue its efforts toward reforming policies we believe are likely to have a disparate impact on historically underrep-resented groups and fails to give consideration to how the practice of law and our profession has changed and relies upon an arbitrary number of hours to measure professional competence.

We also wish to once again recognize and thank the other bar organiza-tions that joined MWL in this endeavor to relay a unified message to the court: Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota Asian Pacific Ameri-can Bar Association, Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association, Minnesota Mother Attorneys Association, and Ramsey County Bar Association.

MWL Past-President Connie Armstrong is As-sociate General Counsel for McGough Construc-tion Co., LLC in St. Paul. Previously, Connie was a shareholder at a Min-neapolis law firm who counseled businesses, contractors and employers in contract, construction and employment matters. Connie serves as a member of the MN Air National Guard, currently assigned as the Deputy Mission Sup-port Group Commander at the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth.

By: Connie Armstrong

The MWL Compendium is an online database of resources related to women in the legal profession. This project evolved from MWL’s 2009-2012 Strategic Plan and the strategic goal to “be a resource for baseline information and research on the current posi-tion of women in the profession as well as the state of the legal profession for women. Use the information to advocate for posi-tive change.”

MWL will continue to add materials to create an ongoing resource of information related to women in the legal profession. We welcome submissions for possible inclusion in the MWL Compendium. Visit: www.mwlawyers.org/compendium

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MWL 100% Club Members - 2016-2017Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.Barnes & Thornburg LLPBerg, Debele, DeSmidt & Rabuse, P.A. Bloch & Whitehouse, P.A. Brekke, Clyborne & Ribich, LLCBrown and Carlson, PAGustafson Gluek PLLCJackson Lewis P.C.Johnson & Turner Attorneys at Law, P.A.Larkin HoffmanLarson • King, LLP LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A. Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson P.A.Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.Patterson Thuente Pedersen, P.A.Prime TherapeuticsQuinlivan & Hughes, P.A.Sykora & Santini PLLPTuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC

MWL’s 100% Club Members are legal employers where all female attorneys are current MWL Members. Employers must have at least two female attorneys to be eligible.

Join MWL as a 2017-2018 100% Club MemberLegal employers who are interested in being recognized as a 100% Club member must report their eligibility to MWL. If you would like a list of the MWL members at your place of employment to compare to your records, please contact MWL Mem-bership Coordinator Hannah Zuercher. (hzuercher@mwlawyers.org.)

The 2018 MWL Conference for Women in the LawIn the coming weeks, MWL will announce complete details for The 2018 MWL Conference for Women in the Law, to be held in Spring 2018.

The goal of the MWL Conference is to collaborate across MWL’s statewide community, provide programming of interest to our membership, and foster networking opportunities, all in the ef-fort to advance MWL’s mission. The Conference will also incorporate MWL’s 47th Annual Meet-ing as the luncheon program, at which time MWL will present its Annual Awards.

This fall, MWL will again accept “Request for Proposals” allowing MWL members and the legal community to submit proposals for Conference break-out seminars. Complete details about the RFP process, as well as the MWL Conference itself, will be available in the coming months.

2017 MWL Conference Highlights:

2017 MWL Conference Keynote Speaker: Laurie Robinson Haden

MWL Members viewing Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society Exhibit

MWL Members at the 2017 Conference Closing Reception

The MWL Foundation Exceeds its “Founding Donor” GoalIn order to support the charitable activities of Minnesota Women Lawyers and its efforts to advance the success of women attorneys, the MWL Foundation has created a foundation that is as flourish-ing as MWL itself. The MWL Foundation welcomes the support of MWL members – women and men who have contributed so much in the past, and who want to continue to see the work of MWL expand and affect even more current and future women lawyers. During Fiscal Year 2016-2017, the MWL Foundation Board of Directors set a goal of raising $30,000 through its “Founding Donor” campaign, by securing one hundred donations of at least $300 each. The intent of this campaign was to jump start and support the work of the MWL Foundation by building a reserve of unrestricted resources, to support MWL and its efforts towards equality, leadership, and community. GOOD NEWS: On April 21st at the 2017 MWL Conference for Women in the Law, the MWL Foundation exceeded its campaign goal by securing 102 Founding Donors. On June 30th, 2017, the final day of the campaign, 106 Founding Donors had committed their support.

The MWL Foundation extends its great thanks to everyone who contributed to the Founding Donor campaign. View the complete list of MWL Foundation “Founding Donors” at www.mwlawyers.org/page/FoundaFoundingDonors. Incorporated in 2014, the Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization created to support the charitable activities of Minnesota Women Lawyers and its efforts to advance the success of women attorneys and strive for a just society. The MWL Foundation fulfils its mission by 1) supporting and funding existing MWL projects that fit its charitable activity criteria; 2) considering additional charitable projects and services that meet MWL’s mission; and 3) working to support MWL’s overall long-term financial stability. Dona-tions are tax-deductible as charitable contributions to the extent allowed by law.

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Members on the Move Angela Brandt has been named the 2017-2018 President of the National Association of Women Lawyers. Angela is a partner at Larson King, focuses her civil litigation practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, professional liability and products liability. Angela has chaired the Mentor Committee and served as the National Chair of the popular NAWL Nights of Giving and is Past President of the Ramsey County Bar As-sociation. She is also a member of Cam-paign for Legal Aid, a committee that raises money for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (“SMRLS”).

Laura Krenz has been named by MSBA to the Real Property Certification Board. The certified specialist designa-tion is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the specialty area, peer review, and documented experience. Certified at-torneys have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill and integrity in their specific field and can use the designa-tion of specialist to advertise their credentials. This achievement has been earned by fewer than 3% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys. Laura is a partner at Lindquist & Vennum LLP and prac-tices Real Estate Law.

MWL South Central Chapter Found-ing Member Ruth Harvey has been honored as a 2017 Yellow Rose Award Recipient. The Yellow Rose Award Recipient is a woman who makes a difference in the lives of other women in the Mankato commu-nity. The recipients are members of BPW, WEB and the South Central Chapter of MN Women Lawyers.

MWL SC Chapter Members Pictured: Top from left to right: Ann Barker, Susan Chambers, Nicole Mourgos and Meghan Maes. Bottom from left to right: Penny Herickhoff, Ardys Korstad and Ruth Harvey

Kimberly Lowe, a senior business lawyer at the JUX Law Firm, was ap-pointed by American Bar Association President-Elect Hilarie Bass to serve a three-year term on the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Commu-nity Service. Kim currently serves as chair of the ABA Business Law Section’s Pro Bono Committee. Kim has served in numerous positions in local, state and national bar associations and organiza-tions. Most notably, Kim recently com-pleted her term as the 97th President of the Hennepin County Bar Association. Kim leads JUX’s business law team, where she focuses on the legal needs of businesses and entrepreneurs, bringing her unique blend of deep knowledge of both for-profit and nonprofit business sectors to all clients.

Judge Ivy S. Bernhardson

Judge Kathryn D. Messerich

Judge Sally L. Tarnowski

Judge Jodi L. Williamson

On July 1, 2017 The Honorable Kathryn Davis Messerich (First Judicial District), Honorable Jodi L. Williamson (Third Judicial District), Honor-able Ivy S. Bernhardson (Fourth Judicial District), Honorable Michelle A. Dietrich (Fifth Judicial District), and Honorable Sally L. Tarnowski (Sixth Judicial District) assumed their positions as Chief Judges in 5 of Min-nesota’s 10 Judicial Districts. This is the first time that half of the Chief Judges in Minnesota’s judicial districts will be women.

Not Pictured: Judge Michelle A. Dietrich

MWL Recognizes the Recent Milestone in Minnesota’s History: Five Chief Judges Overseeing the State’s 10 Judicial Districts Will Be Women

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Jessica J.W. Maher has been ap-pointed to serve as a District Court Judge in Minnesota’s First Judicial District. Ms. Maher was a shareholder at Berg, Debele, DeSmidt & Rabuse, P.A., and is also a clinical instructor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Previ-ously, she was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Gary Crippen, Minnesota Court of Appeals, and a law clerk in the Office of the General Counsel at the University of Minnesota. Ms. Maher serves on the Minnesota Supreme Court Rules of Juvenile Protection Procedure Committee, is Vice Chair of the Hen-nepin County Bar Association Juvenile Section, is an American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Fellow, and is a founding member of the local chapter of a charitable group.

Margaux (Coady) Soeffker was named a Minnesota Rising Star by Super Lawyers® for 2017. This distinction recognizes the top up-and-coming at-torneys in the state and is based on peer recognition and professional achieve-ment. Only 2.5% of all lawyers in Min-nesota may be recognized a Rising Star by Super Lawyers®. Margaux practices exclusively family law at Terzich & Ort, LLP in Maple Grove, MN.

Judge Nicole Starr will receive the 2017 RCBA Excellence in Diversity Award. Judge Starr has been actively involved in local, national and interna-tional human rights and diversity and inclusion issues for many years. Locally, she has organized tours of law offices for students of color. She served as vice chair of the St Paul Human Rights Com-mission from 2005 to 2010 and has been a legal consultant for the Indian Child Welfare Center. Judge Starr currently serves as a Judicial Officer in the Second Judicial District of Minnesota.

Hon. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, is the 2017 Arabella Babb Mansfield Award recipient in recognition of her profes-sional achievement, positive influence, and valuable contribution to women in the law and in society. Hon. Wilhelmina M. Wright, Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, is the 2017 M. Ashley Dickerson Award recipient in recognition of her commitment to promoting diversity.

MWL Board Member Sarah Rohne will receive the 2017 Mullen-Spector-Truax Women’s Leadership Award from the University of Minnesota Women’s Center. Established in 1997, this award is given to a faculty or staff woman at the University who has made outstand-ing contributions to women’s leader-ship development and has ensured the long-term sustainability of her programs and initiatives. Sarah is the employer relations director of the University of Minnesota Law School.

Congratulations to MWL members who were recognized as 2017 Up & Coming Attorneys by Minnesota Lawyer: Shannon Bjorklund Dorsey & Whitney LLP Shelby Knutson Bruce 3M Company Charmaine Harris Blackwell Burke PA Kelsey Rae Kelley Anoka County, Minnesota Alyssa Lawson Robins Kaplan LLP Erin Sindberg Porter Greene Espel PLLP Christina Zauhar Halberg Criminal Defense Kristin Zinsmaster Jones Day

Congratulations to 2017 National Association of Women Lawyers Award Recipients Senator Amy Klobuchar and Hon. Wilhelmina M. Wright

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MWL Members are the Best Source of NEW Members! Refer a New Member and You’ll Be Eligible for Fabulous Prizes!

As MWL launches its 2017-2018 membership campaign, we invite all current MWL members to reach out to colleagues and friends and invite them to join MWL, or to upgrade to a Premier Mem-bership. For each new member you referred to MWL or who committed to a membership upgrade, you will gain entry for fabulous prizes, including a $500 Nordstrom gift card. Full contest details are available in the “Latest News” page on the MWL website (www.mwlawyers.org)

MWL’s 2017-2018 Membership CampaignAll MWL memberships expired on June 30, 2017. MWL brings together nearly 1,300 lawyers, judges, law students, legal employers and supporters who are dedicated to advancing the success of women in the legal profession and striving for a just society.

Thanks to the active involvement of its membership, Minnesota Women Lawyers is one of the most vibrant women’s bar associations in the country. Members are encouraged get to attend an event, participate in a Chapter meeting, join a Committee to help coordinate an event or an initiative, cre-ate an Affinity Group, or contact us about something completely new! MWL believes that bringing diverse individuals together allows us to collectively and more ef-fectively develop ideas, respond to the needs of our membership, and address issues within our legal community. MWL welcomes all levels of involvement, and hopes to continue addressing the changing needs of women in the legal profession through initiatives that are guided by our mission and values. Visit: www.mwlawyers.org/memberbenefits to find out more.

MWL Premier Members 2016-2017Minnesota Women Lawyers extends sincere thanks to its 2016-2017 Premier Members. A strong Premier Member commitment has been vital to MWL’s success over this past year.

DiamondFelicia BoydSusan GallagherArleen NandBridget NasonSusan C. RhodeHon. Mary Vasaly

SapphirePatricia BeithonSuzanne Born Lisa BrabbitKathleen LambJudith LangevinTeresa Fariss McClainPamela Rochlin Sandra Smalley-Fleming

Visit our website to view a complete list of MWL’s Premier Members.

Join MWL as a 2017-2018 Premier MemberPlease consider joining as a 2017-2018 Premier Member. Premier Membership allows you to streamline your annual support and enjoy the benefits all year long! Our Premier Members also help make MWL more accessible to all mem-bers through their increased support.

Complete details are available at www.mwlawyers.org.

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The MWL Partner Leadership Council

Thank You to MWL’s 2017 PartnersPlatinum DLA Piper LLP Dorsey & Whitney LLPFaegre Baker Daniels LLPGustafson Gluek PLLC Merchant & Gould P.C.Robins Kaplan LLP

GoldFredrikson & Byron, P.A.Lindquist & VennumStinson Leonard Street LLPZelle LLP SilverBarnes & Thornburg LLP Fish & Richardson P.C. Fox Rothschild LLPGray Plant MootyLarkin HoffmanMoss & BarnettNilan Johnson Lewis PAStoel Rives LLPUnitedHealth Group

Bronze Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala, P.A.Bassford RemeleBenchmark Reporting Agency Berg, Debele, DeSmidt & Rabuse, P.A. Bowman and Brooke LLP Briggs and Morgan, P.A.Carlson, Caspers, Vandenburgh, Lindquist & Schuman, P.A.Depo InternationalFelhaber LarsonGreene Espel PLLPHalunen Law Jackson Lewis P.C. Jones DayLeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A. MADEL PA Maslon LLPMeagher & Geer PLLPMueting, Raasch & Gebhardt, P.A.Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.Paradigm Reporting & CaptioningPatterson Thuente IP Prime TherapeuticsRobert Half LegalSchwebel Goetz & Sieben PAU.S. Bank National AssociationWinthrop & Weinstine, P.A.Xcel Energy

In an effort to convene MWL’s 2017 Partners in an exchange of ideas and best practices, Minnesota Women Lawyers is pleased to announce its new “MWL Partner Leadership Council.”

All 2017 MWL Partners have been invited to appoint a new and emerging leader from their organization to serve as an attorney representative to the 2017 MWL Partner Leadership Council. Through their participation, representatives will not only collaborate to advance the success of women attorneys across the legal community, but they will also have the opportunity to network among a diverse group of legal community leaders.

The overarching goals of the MWL Partner Leadership Council are threefold:

-To promote MWL’s mission and strategic values by building collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships with its legal employer Partners;

-To bring together legal community leaders in an exchange of ideas and best practices related to advancing women attorneys; and

-To make specific recommendations to the MWL Board of Directors on current and potential programs and initiatives, particularly in light of the organization’s mission and values, strategic plan, available resources and current trends in the legal profession. 2017 Partner Leadership Council Members:Arthur Chapman Kettering Smetak & Pikala, P.A. Shayne Hamann

Barnes & Thornburg LLP Sara Jaspers Bassford Remele, P.A. Cecilie M. Loidolt Benchmark Reporting Agency Aimee Goldberg Berg, Debele, DeSmidt & Rabuse, P.A. Ruta Johnsen Bowman and Brooke LLP Jennifer Wichelman Briggs and Morgan, P.A. Lauren Pockl

Carlson Caspers To be announced Depo International DeAnne Brooks

DLA Piper Poonam Kumar

Dorsey & Whitney, LLP JoLynn Markison

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Liz Wright

Felhaber Larson Meggen Lindsay

Fish & Richardson P.C. Teresa Lavoie

Fox Rothschild Heidi Fisher

Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Emily Unger Gray Plant Mooty Kathryn Hauff

Greene Espel PLLP Sybil Dunlop

Gustafson Gluek PLLC Brittany Resch

Halunen Law Amy E. Boyle

Jones Day Kristin Zinsmaster

Larkin Hoffman Katie Muller LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A. Ariel Pittner

Lindquist & Vennum LLP Sarah Pruett

MADEL PA Cassie Merrick

Maslon LLP To be announced

Meagher & Geer, P.L.L.P. Jennifer Crancer

Merchant & Gould P.C. Rachel Zimmerman Scobie

Moss & Barnett Jana Aune Deach

Mueting, Raasch & Gebhardt Anna M. Nelson

Nilan Johnson Lewis Lori Johnson Ogletree Deakins Stephanie Willing Paradigm Reporting & Captioning Jan Ballman

Patterson Thuente IP Amy Salmela

Prime Therapeutics Kristina Cruz

Robert Half Legal Courtney Sekevitch Brod

Robins Kaplan LLP Liz Burnett

Schwebel Goetz & Sieben PA To be announced

Stinson Leonard Street Jennifer V. Ives

Stoel Rives Maggie Dalton

U.S. Bank National Association Alona Rindal

UnitedHealth Group Jennifer Harper

Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. Erin Mathern

Xcel Energy To be announced Zelle LLP Laura Bartlow

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Make the Most of Your MWL Membership: Get Involved!

Without question, MWL owes its successes over the past 46 years to its dedicated and active mem-bers. Each year, MWL Chapter, Committee and Affinity Group leaders and volunteers coordinate countless events, projects and initiatives, all focused around MWL’s values of equality, leadership and community. Through the tireless dedication and expertise of our members, MWL has grown to one of the largest and most vibrant women’s bar associations in the country. Find out how you can make the most of your membership and help advance MWL’s mission by becoming actively involved. Please join us at MWL’s 2017 Committee Fair & Summer Social on Tuesday August 29th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Stinson Leonard Street LLP. All members and prospective members are invited to attend. Guests will mix and mingle with MWL Leadership and learn more about specific volunteer opportunities. Please register by Friday, August 25th, 2017. (www.mwlawyers.org)

Book Club

The MWL Book Club offers a casual and fun opportunity to meet other MWL members and discuss a book of common interest. Gatherings are held on the second Thursday every other month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Muffuletta in St. Paul. The group enjoys dinner together (pay on your own) and then spends an hour discuss-ing the book selection for the month.

Chair: Karen Bohaty, Attorney at Law

Knitting Affinity Group The MWL Knitting Affinity Group seeks to foster the creative talents of MWL members by providing a venue for members to gather and engage in knitting or other creative endeavors. The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at rotating locations throughout the Twin Cities and metro. All creative interests are welcome.

Chair: Shannon Harmon, IRS, Office of the Chief Counsel

2017-2018 MWL Affinity Groups

2017 MWL Committee Fair and Summer Social

Legal Wine Lovers The MWL Legal Wine Lovers consists of mem-bers who enjoy tasting and learning more about wine and wine-related topics. Our goals are to increase our wine knowledge, provide educa-tional opportunities by inviting guest speakers who are industry experts or leaders, meeting new members using a common interest as the draw, networking, and FUN! Co-Chairs: Jan Ballman, Paradigm Reporting & Captioning Nikki Keirnes, Keirnes Law Firm, PLLC

Master Attorneys Geared towards MWL’s more experienced members (Admitted to the bar at least 10+ years or 35+ years old), the goal of the MWL Master Lawyers Affinity Group is to provide an opportunity for more senior members to meet, support and network with one another, and discuss experiences shared by women who have attained leadership positions within the legal profession. Meetings are held quarterly.

Co-Chairs: Rebecca Chaffee, Best & Flanagan Heidi Fessler, Barnes & Thornburg LLP Barbara Klas, Casepoint

Professional Parents The MWL Professional Parents Affinity Group hosts monthly luncheons and events, which provide a relaxed environment for MWL’s working parents to meet with one another, net-work, and share their experiences, challenges and successes, as it relates to their families and their professional careers. The group typically meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month at noon at the MWL Office.

Co-Chairs: Beth Luoma, DuVal & Associates, P.A. Alona Rindal, US Bank National Association Solo & Small Firm Join other MWL members who are solo and small firm practitioners to discuss issues of common interest. Meetings are held on the first Friday of each month (second Friday on holiday weekends) from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at 8120 Penn Avenue South, 1st floor conference room in Bloomington.

Co-Chairs: Sarah Demers, Law Office of Katherine L. MacKinnon Mary Szondy, Attorney at Law

Remember: Your MWL Involvement is Welcome at Anytime!If you are not able to attend the MWL Committee Fair, but are interested in getting involved, please fill out our Committee and Affinity Group Interest Form available online. Alternatively, contact MWL Membership and Communications Coordinator Hannah Zuercher (612-338-3205; hzuercher@mwlawyers.org). We are happy to add you to a Committee or Affinity Group contact list, connect you with group leadership, and/or provide details about upcoming meetings or gather-ings.

The Central Chapter includes MWL members working or living in the counties of Benton, Douglas, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pope, Sher-burne, Stearns, Todd. The Chapter typically meets on the third Thursday of the month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at various venues in the St. Cloud area.

The Northeastern Chapter includes MWL members working or living in the counties of Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Lake, Pine and St. Louis. The Chapter typically meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dubh Linn Restaurant in Duluth.

The South Central Chapter includes MWL members working or living in the counties of Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan. The Chapter typically meets the second Thursday of each month from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Wow Zone in Mankato.

The St. Croix Valley Chapter includes MWL members working or living in Washington and Chisago Counties. The Chapter meets to discuss current legal issues, network, and socialize and hosts volunteer opportunities in the community. Upcoming activities will be announced shortly.

2017-2018 MWL Chapters

Special thanks to MWL’s 2017 MWL Committee Fair & Summer Social Host:

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2017-2018 MWL Committees Chapter Coordination The Chapter Coordination Committee provides direct support to current MWL Chapters, as well as supports the development of new chapters throughout Minnesota. The Chapter Coordination Committee also identifies how MWL can best support women attorneys out-side of the metro-area, regardless of proximity to a current MWL Chapter. Recommendations are made to the MWL Board for subsequent implementation. Meetings: TBA Co-Chairs: Brooke Nelson, Bernick Lifson, P.A. Additional co-chairs will be announced shortly.

Community Action & Advocacy The Community Action & Advocacy Committee facilitates greater community service and public policy programming and activities as defined by MWL’s mission and values, and approved by the Board. Current focus areas include: 1) violence against women; 2) pay equity; 3) ac-cess to justice; and 4) girl empowerment. The Committee typically meets on the first Thursday of every month from 7:30 am to 8:30 am at The Coffee Shop in Northeast Minneapolis. Co-Chairs: Kelsey Kelley, Anoka County Attorney’s Office Nicolet Lyon, Lyon Law Office Michelle Looby, Gustafson Gluek PLLC

Development The Development Committee assumes primary responsibility for establishing key stakeholder relationships and subsequently raising the funds to meet established revenue goals. This effort will be driven by the development and implementation of MWL’s annual fundraising plan. The Development Committee meets on the first Thursday of the month from 12 pm to 1 pm at the MWL office or via teleconference. Co-Chairs:Susan Gallagher, Gallagher Law Office, L.L.C. Poonam Kumar, DLA Piper LLPBreia Schleuss, Faegre Baker Daniels, LLP

Equity

The MWL Equity Committee is tasked with general oversight for MWL’s projects and initia-tives related to the systemic advancement and success of women attorneys. Current Equity Committee activities include: coordination and oversight of the MWL Media Project, activities related to attaining nonprofit and corporate board positions, specific practice area pipeline projects (judicial, firm, corporate, etc.), further development of MWL’s Data Research Project, general oversight for and promotion of The MWL Compendium, and other related initia-tives in support of MWL’s Strategic Plan. The Equity Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 8:30 am at the MWL office or via teleconference.

Co-Chairs: Amy Boyle, Halunen Law Maureen Carlson, Virtual Radiologic Angela Keise, Minnesota Attorney General’s Office Teresa Lavoie, Fish & Richardson, P.C.Adine Momoh, Stinson Leonard Street LLP Elizabeth Patton, Fox Rothschild LLPSarah Rohne, University of Minnesota Law School

Programming The Programming Committee is charged with general oversight for all of MWL’s programs and CLE’s, ensuring MWL’s work is coordi-nated and meeting established annual strategic goals. To that end, the Committee will also assist Staff and the Board in the development and maintenance of MWL’s master calendar of events. The Committee typically meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 12 pm via teleconfer-ence. Co-Chairs:Kelly Lelo, Larson • King L.L.P. Karen Opp, Korn Ferry Alona Rindal, US Bank National Association

Programming: Annual ConferenceThe Annual Conference Subcommittee provides general oversight and coordination for the an-nual MWL Conference, to be held in the spring of each year. The Committee typically meets the 1st Wednesday of the month from 12 pm to 1 pm via teleconference or at the MWL office. Co-Chairs: Lisa Lodin Peralta, Robins Kaplan LLPAmy Schmidt, City of Bloomington Tina Syring-Petrocchi, Barnes & ThornburgLynn Walters, Walters Legal Services

Programming: CLE

The CLE Subcommittee coordinates specific professional development and leadership events that support women attorneys in: 1) addressing issues of bias and inequity within the profes-sion; 2) developing core competencies; 3) building skill and expertise within specific legal/practice areas; 4) developing leadership skills; 5) attaining leadership positions outside of the legal community; 6) developing and sup-porting mentoring relationships. The Commit-tee meets on the 2nd Friday of each month at noon in the MWL offices or via teleconference.

Co-Chairs: Emerald Gratz, Minnesota Office of Administrative HearingsAndrea Hoversten, Geraghty O’Loughlin & Kenney Letty Van Ert, Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLCRebecca Weisenberger, UnitedHealthcare

Programming: Networking The Networking Subcommittee coordinates MWL’s stand-alone networking events. Ad-ditionally, the Committee provides support and oversight for networking events held in conjunction with other MWL events. The Com-mittee also works to create a welcoming and ac-cessible environment across all MWL activities, to foster opportunities for members to develop meaningful connections and relationships with one another. Meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of the month from 12 pm- 1 pm at the MWL office or via teleconference. Co-Chairs: Angela Browning, Stinson Leonard Street LLP. Kristen Haugen, KC Haugen Law/ Rock Solid ConsultantsNicole Truso, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

PublicationsThe Publications Committee is responsible for producing MWL’s quarterly publication With Equal Right, ensuring its content and format supports MWL’s strategic objectives and goals. Meetings are held on a quarterly basis at the MWL office and via teleconference. Co-Chairs: Laura Arneson, Mueting, Raasch & GebhardtJennifer Wichelman, Bowman and Brooke

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Current MWL members are invited to renew their Minnesota Women Lawyers membership!

All memberships expired on June 30, 2017. Together, MWL members focus on advancing the success of women lawyers and striving for a just society. Take full advantage of membership benefits such as networking, leadership & mentoring opportunities, social events, community action initiatives and more. As MWL looks forward to the coming year and beyond, a continued commitment from individual members will be key to our ongoing success.

RENEW ONLINE at www.mwlawyers.org. Are you a proud member of Minnesota Women Lawyers? Help MWL expand its network and invite a colleague to join us!

MWL Values:Equality: Promoting equality and diversity within the legal profession and community.Leadership: Developing women lawyers into leaders.Community: Engaging and celebrating a diverse community of women lawyers.

Renew Your Membership Today!

Summer 2017 Volume XLVI, Issue I

Minnesota Women Lawyers, Inc.600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 390B Minneapolis, MN 55402

The Official Journal of Minnesota Women Lawyers