2009 WAL ANNUAL SECTION MEETING
DALLAS, TX

Anatole Hotel
June 25th - June 26th

WALS' Schedule of Events for June 25th

1.)    Diversity Forum
        Location:  Miro Room
        Time:  9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

2.)    WAL Section Meeting

        Panel Discussion: "Changing Employment Laws and Their Effect on Women in the Workplace"

        Location:  Verandah Parkview
        Time:  1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., 
Panel Discussion will begin at 1:45 p.m. 
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3.    WAL and General Solo & Small Practice Joint Reception 
(light appetizers and musical entertainment provided)
       Location:  Verandah Parkview
       Time:  5:00 p.m.

Hon. Migdalia Lopez - Congratulations for your contributions to the furtherance of justice in our society! The Ma’at Justice Award symbolizes truth, order, righteousness, and the emergence of order out of chaos. The award seeks an individual or association who actively addresses the needs and issues that affect women in either the legal profession or in the community. Ma'at is the Egyptian goddess of justice.

Jeanne C. "Cezy" Collins - Congratulations on your outstanding achievements in helping to pave the way to success for other women lawyers! The award criteria honors a woman attorney who has achieved professional excellence and has: 1) Influenced other women to pursue legal careers; 2) Opened a door for women lawyers in a variety of job settings that historically were closed to women; 3) Advanced opportunities for women within a practice area or segment of the profession; or 4) Otherwise served her profession and community in a manner which has benefited the legal profession.

The Women In Tyler Day Planning Committee held its annual luncheon devoted to honoring women who "have made and continue to make important contributions to our community." One of this year's recipients of "Women Who Are Driven"  is our very own Council Member, Shannon Dacus. Congrats Shannon!!

DON'T MISS THE RE-BROADCAST ON MAY 24, 2009 AT 4:30 P.M., KERA-TV

WALS 'Emeritus Voting' Board Member Louise Raggio

DALLAS/FORT WORTH – In 1950s America, married women in most states could not open their own bank accounts, sign contracts or control their own paychecks. Women in Texas needed their husband’s permission for most legal and business matters. Texas Attorney, Louise Ballerstedt Raggio changed all that. She didn’t set out to become an icon in the struggle for women’s rights. She became one along the way.
 
KERA 13 shares her story in the half-hour television documentary Texas Trailblazer, Louise Raggio. The program airs Wednesday, March 19th at 9:30 p.m. on KERA 13 and in high definition on KERA 13.1. The program will rebroadcast Monday, March 24th at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 30th at 9:30 p.m. This original KERA television documentary was produced by Sujata Dand.

Judi Craig, Ph.D., MCC, a Senior Practice Advisor for Atticus (a 20-year Practice Management firm that works exclusively with attorneys)  and author of WOMEN ATTORNEYS SPEAK OUT!  How Practicing Law Is Different For Women Than For Men (West.Thomson, 2008), spoke on women attorneys’ biggest frustration: how to get that elusive work/life balance, during the 2008 WALS' Annual Meeting.   

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"Top Five Things a Women Needs to Know About Healthcare"

Our traveling CLE program offers great insight about important legal issues impacting women's health, in today's society. Currently approved for 1.5 CLE credits.

Our latest CLE program was held on September 7, 2007 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The event was cosponsored by the Lubbock County Women Lawyer's Association.

The event was defintely a success!! WAL would like to give a special thank you for all who helped put the program together; including WAL council members Carolyn Moore and Ralph Brock, Lubbock County Women Lawyer's Association, the moderator for the event, Lois Wishkaemper, Vice President and General Counsel for the University Medical Center, and Texas Young Lawyer's Association (TYLA) for donating the "cancer guides" that were distibuted during the meeting. Once again WAL would like to thank everyone for their time and generosity in putting this event together and making it a success.

Photos of the lastest program are featured below...

WHAT A FANTASTIC MEETING! The Women & the Law Section would like to thank everyone who helped make this year's meeting a success!! We would like to express our appreciation for Carmen Samaniego, our outgoing Chair, for all of her efforts during the 2006-2007 year. Thanks to Ronnie Harrison and Leo Ney for all of their hard work with our Annual Booksale. And special thanks to Andrea Johnson (of Powers & Frost) for moderating and helping to coordinate this year's Diversity Forum.

2007 WAL Section Annual Meeting	WALS Book Sale	Diversity Panel Discussion

Shannon Dacus (left) accepting on behalf of Hon. Judith Guthrie for the Sarah T. Hughes Award.

Congratulations to U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie who was honored at our Annual Meeting with the Sarah T. Hughes Award. The award honors the accomplishments of women who have achieved outstanding recognition in their professional area and who, by doing so, have paved the way for success for other women attorneys.

Past Program(s): September 7, 2007, at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas. The event was cosponsored by Lubbock County Women Lawyer's Association and moderated by Lois Wishkaemper, VP and GC for the University Medical Center. Special thanks to TYLA for donating material to distribute.

May 7, 2007, at The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event was co-sponsored by the Health Science Center's Council for Excellence.