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Welcome to
the Kansas Women Attorneys Association website.
The Kansas Women Attorneys Association
(KWAA) is a statewide bar organization committed to the advancement of
women in the legal profession. Membership is open to all attorneys
licensed to practice in Kansas. The membership year runs from August 1
to July 31.
In
1990 the Topeka Women Attorneys Association, under the leadership of
Justice Marla Luckert, organized the first statewide meeting of women
attorneys in Lindsborg, Kansas. In the following years, the
Wichita and Topeka women attorneys organizations shared the
responsibility for this statewide meeting. In 1993 the conference
attendees decided to explore the need for a statewide organization and
in 1994, KWAA was formed (initially named the Jennie Mitchell Kellogg
Circle) with the following goals:
1.
To provide information in an organizational structure for women
attorneys seeking greater bar association involvement, judicial
positions and other opportunities for professional advancement.
2. To provide a statewide structure around which the annual Lindsborg
conference could organize.
In 1997, KWAA began hosting the annual conference in charming
Lindsborg, Kansas. The Lindsborg Conference allows women the
opportunity to share their experiences and expertise. The
Conference provides 12 hours of continuing legal education credit
(including at least 2 ethics hours) each year on a variety of topics,
many of special interest to women. The Conference also provides career
coaching, powerful networking opportunities, and the chance to meet
bright, energetic attorneys from all corners of the state. Best of all,
the Lindsborg Conference is very reasonably priced and fulfills an
entire year's CLE requirements in the space of two or three relaxing
days spent among friends.
In addition to the Lindsborg Conference, KWAA provides support and an
open line of communication year around to its members. KWAA funds an
annual scholarship to each of the Kansas law schools from the proceeds
of a silent auction conducted during the Lindsborg Conference.
The Association constantly monitors and seeks to improve the status of
women in the profession through our Gender Bias committee. We actively
recruit and support women who seek judicial or executive appointments
or other positions of leadership in legal organizations or in the
community. We publish a newsletter twice yearly and distribute a
membership directory each year so members may easily stay in touch or
refer business to another member. We also host a members-only listserv
which posts job openings, provides a forum for those who have questions
about a certain area of the law or need referrals, and allows members
to share good news and support one another.
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