This summer, nearly 1000 attendees gathered to watch New York City's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, swear in the slate of new officers and directors of the National Association of Women Lawyers® (NAWL) at the Awards Luncheon ceremony in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria during the association's 2012 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon. The Mayor and other dignitaries praised NAWL and its members for their historic and ongoing contributions to the legal profession and the administration of justice. Incoming President Beth Kaufman said, “NAWL is a special place, where the amazing staff, its volunteers and members are ever willing to take a good idea that will help women lawyers in some measure and create a program, an initiative or a forum for it. NAWL is truly the voice of women in the law - a voice that is increasingly powerful and that gives voice to those new ideas that will help women achieve the personal success to which they aspire.”
The only nationwide bar association for women, NAWL is commencing its 115th year. Plans for the coming year include pro bono projects with respect to children's rights litigation, human trafficking and other issues of particular importance to women. The association also plans to expand its international programs as well as its existing programs to mentor and expand opportunities for women lawyers in all areas of the profession.
In addition to Ms. Kaufman, the new officers include president-elect, Deborah S. Froling; vice-president, Lisa M. Passante; treasurer, Marsha L. Anastasia; treasurer-elect, Leslie Richards-Yellen; and secretary, DeAnna D. Allen.