WLAM: Women Lawyers Association of Michigan

Join us for our annual lunch meeting on Thursday, May 13 at the beautifully restored historic Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit.

Our featured speaker will be Barbara McQuade, the first female U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in the District’s 198-year history.  McQuade is also a long time WLAM member.  She will share her experience, insights and words of wisdom.  Michigan Court of Appeals Judge and WLAM member Kirsten Frank Kelly will preside at the installation of the Region’s new officers and Board members.  In addition, WLAM banners will be presented to Judge Kelly and two other WLAM members of the judiciary who have not previously received a WLAM banner, 36^th District Court Judge Noceeba Southern and 36^th District Court Magistrate Renee McDuffee. Registration & networking 11:00 - 11:30 amLunch Buffet 11:30 amSpeaker Barbara McQuade 12:00 pmInstallation of new officers to follow.Presentation of WLAM banners to follow.$20 members/$35 nonmembersRSVP by May 3rd to Julie Pfitzenmaier, jpfitzenmaier@wrightpenning.comSponsorship opportunities also available.

Curious about possible ethical implications of social media as solicitation or improper advertisement or communication?  Concerned about the practical considerations of what to do if your senior partner or practice group leader “friends” you?  What if a “FaceBook friend” turns out to be a witness or opposing counsel?

Overviews and a panel discussion of ethical, etiquette and practical issues regarding social media for lawyers.  Speakers include Todd Mendel, Tiffany Buckley-Norwood and Elizabeth Jolliffe.  Mendel is a commercial litigator and member of Barris Sott Denn & Driker, where he has chaired the firm’s Ethics Committee since 2000.  Buckley-Norwood is an associate at Dickinson Wright, where she counsels and defends employers on various issues, including employee handbooks and personnel policies.  Jolliffe is a business development and career management coach for lawyers, and former commercial litigator and member at Clark Hill. 

Thursday, April 29

11:45 am - 1:00 pm

Dickinson Wright, 500 Woodward Ave, Suite 4000, Detroit

Lunch provided.   $10 WLAM members/$15 nonmembers.   RSVP to Allison Bach at abach@dickinsonwright.com.  

42 women lawyers, judges and law students had a wonderful time at Board member Jeri Parkin's beautiful home in Northville on Friday evening, January 22, 2010.  Thanks to perfect planning by our hostess Jeri (a highly organized, creative real estate and business lawyer at Barris Sott), comfort food (lasagna, salad, wine and brownies), and a surprisingly competitive warm-up challenge from social chair and V.P. Allison "Bingo" Bach of Dickinson Wright, people agreed the Winter Dinner Wine Fest rivaled the success of the End of Summer Party last year at Judge Kirsten Frank Kelly's home.  (And Jeri's carpets remained spotless!)

Attendees included WLAM State president Kim Winokur (a member of the Washtenaw Region), WLAM Wayne member 36th District Court Judge Kay Hansen (a "Bingo" winner), WLAM Wayne member Wayne County Juvenile Division Judge Lynne Pierce, State Representative Alma Wheeler Smith, Dem., who is running for governor and WLAM Wayne Region president Joni Van Genderen. WLAM members from Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw Regions mixed with scores of other women lawyers and law students from southeast Michigan. 

Thank you all for coming, thanks very much to Jeri Parkin and Allison Bach, and a big thanks also to Treasurer Kathy Rogers for keeping track of the money!

See photos from the dinner:

http://picasaweb.google.com/elizabethjolliffe/WLAMWayneWinterDinner#

-Elizabeth Jolliffe

The Wayne Region rocked in the holiday season with 23 people on hand to celebrate at Hard Rock Cafe on the 15th.  A great space, plenty of food, easy parking, and notables such as 36th District Court Judges Cylenthia LaToye Miller and Kay Hansen, Wayne County Circuit Court Juvenile Division Judge Lynne Pierce, Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Kirsten Frank Kelly, and soon to be the new (and first female) United States Attorney for the ED MI Barb McQuade attended.  Six lucky people walked away with a bottle of wine.

It was great to see everyone - new members, soon to be members, veterans and enthusiasts.  We look forward to getting together again at the Wayne Winter Wine Fest (wine & dine!) on Friday, January 22nd.  We'll relax over dinner at a member's home in Northville and celebrate winter!

Many thanks go to Allison Bach of Dickinson Wright and Julie Pfitzenmaier of Wright Penning for organizing the Rockin' the Holiday party.

See photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/elizabethjolliffe/WLAMWayneRockinTheHoliday#

Photos by Kathy Rogers.

Celebrate Winter with the Women of Wayne on Friday, January 22nd.

 Wine, dinner, great conversations and connections.  Warm, friendly, comfortable yet dynamic, energetic and useful!  Bring a friend.

Hosted by Wayne Board member Jeri Parkin of Barris, Sott, Denn & Driker, PLLC at her home in Northville.  Address provided when you RSVP. 

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Wayne members $10 

Non-members $15

Leave your wine at home since we still have plenty from our generous guests at the Wine & Garden Party!

RSVP by January 19 to Elizabeth Jolliffe.  Elizabeth@YourBenchmarkCoach.com