The Women's Summit Sponsors Its First Major Event

A newsletter published by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 1, No. 4 Summer 1990

The Women's Summit Sponsors Its First Major Event: An Evening With Gloria Sfeinem Tickets are now on sale for An Evening With Gloria Steinem, a gala event being presented by The Women's Summit Friday, October 19, in the President ballroom of the new Oregon Convention Cen Katherine O'Neil ter in Portland. The evening-the Summit's first major event-includes a no-host cocktail party, Vice-Presidents Debra Kronenberg a light dinner, and a talk by Ms. Steinem. Sharon Smith The Women's Summit was officially formed in November 1989 to increase communication Corporate Secretary Agnes Sowle between business and professional women's organizations, to promote public awareness of Recording Secretary Diane Polscer the role of business and professional women in the community, and to sponsor major events that Treasurer would exceed the resources available to any Cynthia L. Barrett single organization. Board Members Before the Summit was founded, women's jeanne Atkins organizations in the Portland area tended to Kathryn S. Augustson Nell Hoffman Bonaparte operate in isolation, though they were address The Hon. Nancy Campbell ing common issues and interests. Founding Gloria Steinem's appearance is expected to attract The Hon. Mercedes F. Deiz an audience ofover 1,000, so buy your tickets soon. organizations included Oregon Women Lawyers; Sandra Hansberger You can do so by contacting Kathy Zelko (226-6400), JaniceKrem Queen's Bench; the American Women's Soci Oregon Women Lawyers' representative to the Corinne "Corky'' lai ety of Certified Public Accountants of Portland; Stephen R. Moore Summit, or by sending a check for $29 per person Phyllis Myles the American Society of Women Accountants, to The Women's Summit, P. 0. Box 25655, Portland, Mary Anne Petersen Portland Chapter; Financial Women Interna OR97225. Agnes M. Petersen tional, Portland Metropolitan Group; the Port Kathryn M. Ricciardelli The Hon. Betty Roberts landia Club, Inc.; The Institute of Managerial and The Hon. Ellen Rosenblum Professional Women; Women in Action; and Ruth Spetter Irene Bustillos Taylor Women in Communications, Inc., Portland Spring Conference Offers Celeste C. Whitewolf Chapter. Ann Zeltmann The Summit holds general meetings approxi Specific Help for Women Executive Director mately three times a year. These meetings serve "Jumping the Hurdles" Diane Rynerson as a forum for sharing ideas about how to meet (503)235-871 6 the needs of individuals in member organiza Women lawyers who are "trying to do it all" Executive Assistant tions, how to recruit and retain members, how need to recognize how this behavior is affect Kristin K. Colligan to extend organizational growth beyond the Port ing theirfuture health and performance and take Newsletter Editor land Metro hub, and how to "grow" leaders. steps now to alter their course. That was one Carolyn Buan Meetings are open to all interested women. important message from Oregon Women The next-scheduled for 5:30p.m., October 30, Lawyers' spring conference, "Jumping the Graphic Design Jeanne E. Galick at the Willamette Athletic Club-will be a time Hurdles." Here, we look at two of the many to revel in the success of the Gloria Steinem fine presentations made at the conference. The Oregon Women lawyers evening and to brainstorm ideas for the next AdvanceSheet is published periodically by Oregon Summit event. The Superwoman Phenomenon Women lawyers, P.O. Box If you have ideas that the Summit should According to one workshop leader, counselor 40393, Portland, OR 97240. pursue, plan to attend-or call Katherine 0' Nei I Eileen Hannegan, women in general-and (222-4545) or Diane Polscer (228-6351) with women lawyers in particular-often sufferfrom your thoughts. (Continued on page 4) rienced practitioner to co-author a I urge all members of Oregon chapter. Women Lawyers to participate with us The well-considered thoughts and in assuring better representation of concerns of the health law executive women and minorities as CLE present The board of committee will be a featured column ers. The telephone numbers of the Oregon Women in the fall issue of the AdvanceSheet. Board of Governors and section execu Lawyers has re tive committee members are in the Bar quested that the ~ Directory. governors of the JTJil Oregon State Bar Elizabeth M. Stephens, executive adopt a policy of af director of the Oregon Law Institute, firmative action in re has written to request volunteers will gard to all continuing ing to speak at or help plan upcoming legal education pro OLI continuing education seminars. grams, including those presented by OLI is particularly interested in achiev sections of the bar. Participation in ing a diversity of men, women, and these CLE presentations is essential to minorities on its program faculties. If Lett£rs to the Editor an attorney's growth as a recognized you are interested, send your resume specialist. In today's highly competitive Please accept my office's member to Carolyn Wilson Miller at P. 0. Box environment, where many major firms ship fee to OWL. Even from our oil 40393, Portland, OR 97240. have established a "publish or perish" covered, ice-bound, burned-out per policy for those aspiring to partnership, ~ spective, a reading of the AdvanceSheet participation can be a requirement for HI Ill leaves no doubt OWL supporters will continued employment. play a major role in making the Ore Oregon Women Lawyers is also tak Yet few women or minority present gon social and professional environ ing steps to "step up" the participation ers are featured at CLEs. ment more equitable. Now, if only you of women in CLEs. On October 20 we could do oil spills we'd petition to start _Q!_e holdin a worksho to hel mem ffiflEA~~~~----- bers hone their presentation skills. And Very truly yours, in our 1990 renewal forms, we are On June 19, Paul Frisch, chair ofthe Rand Dawson, Attorney at Law asking you for your section member Health Law Section, invited me to an Anchorage, Alaska ships. If you would like to join our excellent special meeting of that sec committee on diversity in professional tion's executive committee, which is Dear Editor: presentations, please call Carolyn struggling to design a mechanism for I just received and finished reading Wilson Miller (226-1371 ). publications and seminars that will your AdvanceSheet publication and was quite impressed with the apparent ensure formal and informal access for ~ all section members. In addition to Mr. HI Ill organization of women lawyers in Frisch, Karen Berry, Ray Mensing, and Oregon these days. I sensed strength Marilyn Podemski were present at the This is a golden time for women and and support from and for your mem meeting. minorities to act within the OSB and its bers, and wish you well in your en The concern and dedication of these sections. Historically, many individu deavors. individuals to achieving diversity is als have failed to raise the issue of CLE As a nonpracticing lawyer I recently critical. First, the Health Law Section is participation, believing it to be a futile read with interest "The Lure of the Law: producing and publishing its basic text gesture. However, the OSB Board of Why People Become Lawyers and outside the OSB's CLE structure and on Governors has set affirmative action as What the Profession Does to Them" by a fast track. This is a "first ever," and a top priority for 1990, and a majority Richard Moll, 1990.1 recommend it for to my mind-the wave of the future, of the governors are OWLS members. women who still struggle with their given the current financial status of the If affirmative action is to succeed, of decisions on whether to continue prac OSB's CLE program. course, continuous monitoring will be ticing. I stopped practicing in 1984 af Second, the section chose authors for necessary. This, then, is our specific ter three years ...and do not think I am the basic text on the basis of propos request to the Board of Governors: likely to return to that work in the fore als, which any member of the section seeable future. But for those brave could submit. The executive commit The board of Oregon Women Law women who continue in the profes tee, which was concerned about prob yers respectfully requests that the sion, I am grateful for the development lems that arise when access is informal, Board of Governors prepare a form of OWL and wish you well. designed a formal structure that guar for the heads of each section to use in their annual reports to the member Very truly yours, anteed open access. In their thinking, ship on the number of presentations judith E. Basker, for example, was the question of and publications prepared by that Assistant Vice President whether a minority member new to the section each year, noting the sex, race, Candidate Service Law Services practice might be paired with an expe- and ethnic origin of each presenter. Newtown, Pennsylvania

2 regon Women Lawyers Salutes Wome ho Head Local Bar Associations This year, four women head local bar associations in Oregon. Here, we pay tribute to two of them. Ruth M. Spetter is president of the Multnomah Bar Association, the largest in the state. The organization presently has about 3,000 members, 25 percent of whom are women. Spetter has also served as vice-president of the Oregon State Bar the first woman to hold that position-and as the first female president of the MBA Young Lawyers Section. Spetter graduated from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College and is senior deputy city attorney for the City of Portland. For her, service on the county bar board offers opportunities to meet a great many people and learn about a great many viewpoints in the legal community. Teamwork, the abil Mary Leonard Law Society President ity to listen, and careful planning can allow a board member to make a differ Elizabeth Stockdale ence, and that, says Spetter, "is a good feeling." Leading the Mid-Columbia Bar Association this year is Deborah M. Phillips, a The Mary Leonard Law partner in Parker, Bowe, Blakely & Phillips, P. C. in Hood River. The Mid-Colum bia Bar Association includes attorneys and other legal professionals from Hood Society Is Oregon Women River, Wasco, Wheeler, Gilliam, and Sherman Counties. Lawyers' Second Chapter Phillips credits her election to the presidency to a combination of chance and The Mary Leonard Law Society in Sa tradition. (Three years ago she missed a bar association meeting and was promptly lem, the second official chapter of nominated for secretary-a position that leads to the vice-presidency and presi Oregon Women Lawyers, was formed dency.) Preceding Phillips in the leadership role was Hood River District Attor some six years ago by government ney Sally Tebbet. She and other women attorneys in the region "earned the pro lawyers who were seeking opportuni fessional respect of the legal community"-a factor that Phi IIi ps believes allowed ties for all women lawyers to "connect" her to be welcomed into the profession when she arrived in Hood River in 1983, with one another. Since that time, the fresh from graduation at the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College group has presented two career panels in Portland. featuring women lawyers from differ (Next time, we salute Nancy Nickel, president of the Grant County Bar Association, and ent areas of practice, including the Elizabeth Baldwin, president of the Clatsop County Bar.) judiciary. An important focus of these panels has been how lawyers balance career and family obligations. This summer the Society will set up a mentoring program for young women entering the legal profession. The idea, according to president and former OWLS board member Elizabeth Stock dale, is "to find someone to serve as a role model and friend" to these young lawyers. It wasn't hard to convince Society members to become an official OWLS chapter, says Stockdale. "I sent out a ballot that outlined Oregon Women Lawyers' goals and said, 'Do you want to be affiliated?' Everyone said 'Yes."' Stockdale noted that members of the Society believed that OWLS member Ruth M.Spetter, Multnomah Bar Association Deborah M. Phillips, Mid-Columbia Bar ship would strengthen their own Association group's identity, providing a larger supporting organization. "Our basic philosophies were very SUPPORT OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS WITH YOUR similar," says Stockdale. "The members ADVERTISING. FOR INFORMATION AND RATES, were interested in doing something that would be a contribution to the profes CALL DIANE RYNERSON AT 235-8716 sion. It was a natural thing to do!"

3 Gretchen Morris, Corvallis Women Lawyers Cindy Barrett, Oregon Women Lawyers' Dr. Helen Collier, conference speaker Photo by Rick Antony treasurer Photo by Dan Carter Photo by Dan Carter.

SPRING CONFERENCE REVIEW cont. a disorder that is commonly known as care of my husband and be a volunteer." taking on a client's case without trying co-dependency (a term once used to But, as Hannegan points out, "This to take away that person's pain. describe the sense of responsibility package is very fragile. We're people However, Hannegan warns, putting -- --seme-pe0J3Ie-have-for-afl -akeft01-ie--whel-ve-beefH'l:tftfti.rTg-en empty and--tJp-ba11 iers is 110t a t1 ocrble-f1 ee p1 o - spouse). don't know how to meet our needs with- ess. "The first time you put up a "When I entered the field 10 years out feeling guilty. The unfortunate result boundary, your life will go to the pits. ago," said Hannegan, "I didn't have an for some is Epstein-Barr Syndrome, or After all, you are introducing change, alcoholic in the family, but I had all the 'people going beyond burnout."' and people resist change." symptoms of a co-dependent person." "These people", says Hannegan, "are "Lawyers," she says, "need to talk That person is living outside herself, is not in touch with their bodies. They do to one another-to ask one another for happy when others are happy, and physical and emotional damage to help." looks to others to validate "who she is." themselves, to the point that they lose In some ways, Hannegan sees For women, the tendency to live theirenergy.Anyemotionaldamageand women professionals as having a through others' I ives is reinforced in they're in bed totally exhausted. They've particularly difficult time setting lim- childhood, when they are groomed done damage that can't be undone. It's its-simply because of their tendency never to say "No." As a result, becoming a chronic disease, and I'm to be high achievers and to live in the women--especiallywomenwhowork seeing it especially in women." intellect-not the emotions. These in demanding professions--keep think- A women in a co-dependent situation women seldom "feel feelings." Instead ing, "I should be able to do this all. I enters a vicious circle: (1) she hopes that they try to use an analytical approach should beabletogotoschool and have if she takes care of all the people in her to relationships and to remain "over- two infants and a profession and take life, she'll feel worthy and people will controlled." These are the women like her and treat her well; (2) inevita- who say, "I'm going to remodel the LEGAL ETHICS AND bly she is disappointed; (3) becomes house-this weekend" and who are angry; (4) vents her anger about "little" extremely upset iftheyfeellike crying. DISCIPLINEJ things; and (5) becomes depressed, but Hannegan's recipe for change in- 1ln-house1 Ethics CLEs eventually (6) minimizes the problem, valves some fairly simple steps-at and (7) discounts it altogether ("I'm just least in theory. Stephen R. Moore exaggerating), and ultimately (8) feels First, get to know who you are. Start 209 SW Portland, OR 97204 Oak, guilty, starting the cycle once more. having a relationship with you. What (503) 274-2556 The answer, says Hannegan, is to are your needs and wants? (People are M.Div., Duke Divinity School, 1968 begin establishing boundaries--to begin supposed to have them!) J.D. Michigan law School, 1974 realizing that one only has so much Second, realize that human beings Ad Junct Professor of legal Ethics at energy to give. For the parent, this may have limits. What are yours? What Northwestern law School since 1979. mean having the children make their about accepting them-and realizing Chairperson, OSB legal Ethics own lunches (something they actually that they will change? Committee 1983-84. can do!). For the lawyer, it may mean Third, establish your boundaries.

4 Talk to other lawyers about setting traditional model involves a long-term boundaries with clients---about serving relationship with a mentor, who is Malt Your Calendars for them without saving them. usually 8 to 15 years older than the Fourth, observe yourself and your protege. This form of mentoring, how Oregon Women Lawyers life. Is 120 hours on duty each week ever, has seldom been available to Bar Breakfast balanced? Do you have relationships? women and minorities, due in part to PLANNING FOR See what's working and what isn't. questions mentors have had about the Fifth, is your work environment risks and payoffs of having them as THE 90s: healthy? proteges. When the traditional men On this last point, individuals can taring model has worked, the male has WHERE WE WANT TO only do so much to change their envi been the mentor and the female the BEANO HOW ronments, but they can do a lot within protege. those environments to make them More successful than these tradi WE GET THERE healthier places to live. tional models at times are woman-to 7 to 9 a.m., October 5, 1990 At the very least, women lawyers woman relationships, which are far less The Portland Red Lion Inn, Lloyd need to set aside time for the self formal. Center quiet, contemplative time when noth Women who serve as mentors to Featuring a panel of women attor ing needs to be accomplished. And other women, however, tend to give neys and specialists in affirmative they can learn to play without setting infrequent, sporadic, and discontinuous action and parenting, this program goals. (Training all weekend for the tri help in a style that tends to be very will identify key goals for the com athalon is not real play time!) passive and is characterized by an ing decade and begin developing a "But," warns Hannegan, "you're not excessive politeness and concern for strategy for attaining them. going to resolve the problem in your not pushing the protege into doing This is an opportunity for Oregon head. You need to get to know emo something that may make her unhappy. Women Lawyers members to tell the tions, feelings. We need to be trained For the protege, assistance comes board what they need from the or in this-to be in a safe environment to from several mentors and she seems to ganization in the 90s. Agnes Sowle express it." be particularly happy when she re and Armonica Gilford are co-chairs. ceives support from an organization Please plan to attend and give us Finding a Mentor even a work team. your ideas! One way to receive the career sup At different times in their careers, port one needs is to find a mentor. All women seem to need different kinds of of us have our own attitudes towards help. At the access/entry phase (which giving or accepting this kind of help, may happen when a woman is begin LANE and these attitudes affect our ability to ning to think about any kind of career establish successful relationships with movement), a colleague can be ex POWELL mentors. tremely helpful by simply facilitating an In research about mentoring that important introduction. But mentoring SPEARS speaker Wendy Howard of North Bend is critical not just at the entry and the LUBERSKY has done, she has discovered that the (Continued on page 6)

We are pleased to announce the merger of the law firms of lane Powell Moss & Miller Seattle, Washington 1889- 1990 and Spears, lubersky, Bledsoe, Anderson, Young & Hilliard Portland, Oregon 1889 - 1990 to form lane Powell Spears lubersky june 1990

Portland Office: 520 S.W. Yamhill Street Suite 800 Portland, Oregon 97204-1383 Speaker Dr. Helen Collier (second from left) holds an informal discussion with confer (503) 226-6151 encegoers. Photo by Dan Ca rter.

5 Conference participants (clockwise): Armonica Gilford; The Han. Michael Marcus and the Han. Nely johnson; Blake1Ramsey and David Gernant; Sharon Smith, Dr. Kay Porter, and Katherine O'Neil

novice phases of work; it can be i mpor Bangsund added that his group is tant during the "making it" phase, looking for lawyers who want to receive which usually occurs after five years in mentoring help. "When we set up the the same job. program, we had 150 people who -Ac-€0H:ling-te-anether s!3ffiker, Kath- ~ Speaker Dav-id Bangsunei, who is-en - waRted te 8e mentoFs--and only 10 who - leen Eymann, it's relatively easy to seek the committee that oversees the lattet wanted to be a colleague. I'm out here out help-by initiating informal con program, indicated that every attempt trying to drum up a little business!" tacts with colleagues to discuss a case is made to ensure that mentor-protege or a specific question; by volunteering matches are compatible. for bar committees (perhaps the less popular ones), which helps one meet lots of lawyers from around the state; Oregon Women Lawyers owes a by associating with another lawyer on giant round of applause to Sandra ' AIII~~r.aNatural Nail & Hand Care a case (and initiating this arrangement); Hansberger, Diane Rynerson, and (640-4575) and by "self- mentoring"-for example, committee members Sara Cabin, using the self-improvement tapes the Armonica Marie Gilford, Susan Anderson financial Group Oregon State Bar or the American Trial Evans Grabe, Paula Hammond, Pat (228-0035) Hanley, Kathleen Jones, Ellen Koller, Lawyers Association puts out. ~ &.Asllodatel Beyond these self-initiated mentoring Kathryn M. Olney, Vernellia Randall, C223-979n arrangements, the Oregon Trial Law Sarah Ruth Rosenberg, Kathryn Ric yers Association and Oregon State Bar ciardelli, Janice Schurman, Ruth offer structured programs, such as: Spetter, and Vicki Hopman Yates for • The OSB Lawyer to Lawyer Pro their excellent work on the spring gram, which is basically a referral serv conference. Special thanks, also, to ice to help answer questions about those who helped on the day of the unfamiliar areas of the law for lawyers conference-Sharon Smith, Debra ~&Associates working on cases; Kronenberg, Kathryn Augustson, and (227-1544) Norma Freitas--and to the task force • The Case Evaluation Clinics of New from the Mary Leonard Society, York Life lnsutaftc:e fered periodically by the Oregon Trial (226-1376) Lawyers to provide the assistance of whose members contacted the ap two or three lawyers for individuals pre proximately 180 women attorneys Northwest fleet & Leasing paring cases; practicing in the Salem area for (646-5490) • The Oregon Trial Lawyers' more membership information (Janice Schurman, Janelle Irving, Sally Sonkair Couriers traditional mentoring program, which (257-8586) is carefully designed to give valuable, Avery, Irene Bustillos Taylor, Ann middle-of-the-day help on a continu Morgan, Jane Reeder, and Kathryn Marianne Wilson Interiors ous basis. Ricciardelli).

6 Free CLE Credits Bring your photo album to life ... Multnomah County's mediation • a video family history is a perfect Take Notice! program offers free periodic training to gift for your parents' anniversary. its volunteer mediators. The course • Static photos come to life on counts towards CLE credits, including video with an accompanying sound track. Guaranteed rave Families With a Legal Tradition the practical-skills requirements of new • reviews. Everyone will think Cynthia Fraser is gathering informa admittees. • you're a genius . tion on Oregon families with both In exchange for the CLE credits, vol Rates S30 an hour. plus ex mothers and daughters in law practice unteers are expected to serve as media • penses (tapes. postage, phone (but of course she's interested in other tors for a half to a full day per month. calls ... ) Most histories done in 3-4 "legal connections" too). Cynthia's fa The course training, combined with the • hours. ther, Bob Fraser, practices in Eugene very practical training of mediating • communicatiOn and is on the Oregon State Bar Board small claims, is an excellent, rapid skill concepts 585-6837 of Governors. Her sister Jaye is coun builder. • 476 Lantz St. SE Salem 97302 sel for U. S. West. Both Jaye and Cyn At present, about 80 lawyers volun thia are married to attorneys. An early teer their time for this program, which • response came from Mary Oberst, handles about two-thirds of the small whose parents, grandparents, and one claims cases in Multnomah County. Of Needed: More Women great-grandparent were lawyers. Mary's the 1 ,260 cases that had gone to me CLE Presenters husband is also a lawyer. diation by April of this year, nearly 700 Carolyn Wilson Miller is coordinator of If your family has a "legal tradition," settled without going to trial before a the joint OWLS-Queen's Bench task please write or phone Cynthia with judge. In recent months, 85 percent of force on diversity in continuing legal your story. We plan to run a feature in litigants have expressed their apprecia education presentations. Carolyn and the and also to arrange tion for the program, which saves them AdvanceSheet her Queen's Bench colleagues-Merri a social function forfamilies who pro considerable time and frees judges to Souther Wyatt, Janice Krem, and Ar duce OWLS. hear other types of cases. monica Gilford-are seeking commit OWLS member Shannon Stewart tee representation from each section of coordinates the program. If you would the bar. OWLS members interested in like to participate-or simply need promoting greater participation ~y more information-contact her at women and minorities in continuing Room 225, Multnomah County Court legal education projects are asked to house, 1021 SW Fourth Avenue, Port telephone Carolyn at 226-1371. land, OR 97204 (248-3318). OWLS needs to respond promptly to requests from the Oregon Law Institute and to the family law section with the OWLS Contract Attorney names of qualified women and minori Attention: Those Interested in the Referral Service ties willing to make presentations and Working Parents Forum Oregon Women Lawyers is offering write articles. If you are interested in We would like to invite you to our a unique service to its members: a re making a CLE presentation, please send first meeting-at noon Tuesday, August ferral service listing OWLS who would your resume and suggested topic to 21, Chang's Yangtze Restaurant in The like to do contract work. Such work can Carolyn at P. 0. Box 40393, Portland, Galleria, 921 SW Morrison, Portland. be temporary, short or long term, part OR 97240. The first meeting will feature Jeffrey time or full time, or ad hoc project Rogers, city attorney and chairman of work. The service was originally de the Oregon State Bar's Committee on signed to meet the needs of attorneys Combining Family and Career. Rogers who are at home with small children, and other members of the committee but it is open to any OWLS member Inteli-Track will present their group's findings; in who wishes to be listed. ~ cluding their proposals related to part If you are interested, contact Sarah Investigati~ time and parental-leave policies. Rosenberg (235-051 0) for an applica Bring ideas for future discussions and tion form. The information from mem • Criminal investigations share your personal experiences about bers' forms will be compiled into a • Civil litigation combining family and career. For res master list, which will be made avail • Juvenile & domestic ervations, call Nell Hoffman Bonaparte able to anyone interested in hiring an • Civil rights (224-9723) or Diane Rynerson (235- attorney on a contract basis. Sarah can • Personal injury 8716) before August 15 or send a check also send you a copy of the completed • Missing persons for $8 to: Oregon Women Lawyers, master list, as soon as it is prepared. Working Parents Forum, P. 0. Box (503) 231-4765 40393, Portland, OR 97240.

7 month, 5:15 p.m., in the Bullivant son to call with requests for ads in the Houser offices at Portland's PacWest AdvanceSheet and for answers to ques Around Oregon Center. For details, call Diane Polscer tions about Oregon Women Lawyers • Central Oregon Women Lawyers (228- 6351). activities. Diane can be reached by holds informal lunch meetings in Bend • Queen's Bench in Portland meets calling 235-8716. the second Friday of each month. For at 11 :45 a.m. on the second Tuesday of details, call Marge Garrow (382- 3736). the month at the Hilton International • Corvallis Women Lawyers meets Club and holds business meetings on with other women professionals each the fourth Tuesday at 11 :45 a.m. in the Thursday noon to discuss topics of Standard Plaza Cafeteria, Room B mutual interest. For details, call (11 00 S. W. Sixth Avenue). The July Sometimes That Gretchen Morris (754-1411 ). program featured Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Barbara Gentle "Push" • In Klamath Falls an informal group Roberts. The August 14 meeting will Makes All the of women lawyers meets occasionally be devoted to open discussion (no for lunch. For more information, call speaker), and the September 11 meet- Difference Karla Knieps (884-7728). ing will feature a talk by Kathleen Witness a letter that Elizabeth A. • Lane County Women Lawyers As- Saadat of the Office of Affirmative Ac- Perry (Vancouver, Washington) recently sociation holds brownbag lunch meet- tion ("If Affirmative Action Is the An- wrote to a trust company. The purpose ings each month (except summer) at the swer, What Is the Question?") For more of a letter was to thank the chairman Lane County Public Service Building, information, call Marilyn Bishop (248- of the board of that company for a Conference Rooms B & C, in Eugene. 2902). presentation made by one of the com Recently the group met with the Lane • Women Lawyers of Southern Ore- pany staff-and to note with some County Women CPAs to hear the lat- gon meets informally as a support concern the absence of women in the ter organization's national president group. For meeting information, call organization. discuss alternate work schedules for Colette Boehmer (779-7552) or Helen We reproduce that letter here as a professionals_. _ Lane.Lo_unty_Wom~A~thaus-(4-88-1159). model that-oo-r--members-may wish to Lawyers also has an active mentoring follow when they encounter similar program with the University of Oregon situations. (Perry's letter, incidentally, Law School's Women's Law Forum and elicited a lengthy response acknowl on April 27 presented a forum entitled edging an imbalance of women in " Law-Women's Work." Speakers senior positions, but noting that "in included the Hon. Kim Frankel from recent years women have been a ma Multnomah County, psychologist Carol jority of incoming employees in the Kirkpatrick, and Darby Giannone, prin investment area.") cipal of the Japanese Immersion School. For information about meet ings, call Sharon Smith (686- 8511 ). • Lincoln County Recipe Club. Dear Mr. (chairman's name): Women attorneys and other OWLS I recently had the pleasure of members in Lincoln County meet alter hearing a presentation by Mr nate Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. at the ( ) of your office. His Newport Hotel to discuss "recipes" for presentation on your company social change and personal and profes was interesting and informative. sional growth. Members are also active However, in looking through the in the Lincoln County Bar Association. New Executive Director Diane Rynerson brochure that he left, I was con For the next meeting date, call Bernice cerned because the people pro Barnett (238-6406). Welcome to our new executive di filed as important in your organi rector, Diane Rynerson, and congratu zation did not include any • The Mary Leonard Law Society in lations to our executive assistant, Kristin women. I wondered what success Salem (see related article in this news Colligan, on the birth of her baby. In you have in recruiting women letter) holds a lunch meeting the sec addition to her duties as executive di into positions of responsibility in ond Wednesday of each month (except rector, Diane is assuming the executive your firm. August). For meeting places and other assistant's responsibi I ities during Thank you for your kind hospi information, call Elizabeth Stockdale Kristin's maternity leave this summer. tality on Friday. (378-4620). Diane is a native of Portland, a gradu Very truly yours, • The Multnomah County Bar Asso ate ofthe Santa Clara University School Elizabeth A. Perry ciation Committee on the Status of of Law, and a member of the Califor Women meets the third Thursday of the nia and Oregon bars. She is the per-

8 P/0~ bytlelenF.Aitlmm

The way west was a long, long way for her application, holding that women Oregon's first woman lawyer, Mary were disqualified to practice law be Gysin Leonard, an immigrant girl from cause of their sex. Switzerland who first lived in Portland during the early 1870s. The application in this case is In 1875, Mary Gysin married Daniel somewhat unusual. The applicant G. Leonard, well-to-do proprietor of an has produced a certificate of ad inn and a ferry over the John Day River mission to the courts of Washing on the Old Oregon Trail east of The ton Territory, which, under the Dalles. Just 10 years later the Oregon practice referred to, would ordinar Supreme Court would deny Mary ily be regarded as sufficient to admission as a lawyer, on the ground entitle a person to admission as an that she was a woman. attorney. But the applicant being a Those intervening years were woman, the court is in doubt Leonard's application in early 1886, crammed with events that indeed whether it has the right to admit under the new law, the Oregon Su boggle the imagination: a stormy and her. The question is not free from preme Court raised yet another objec unhappy marriage; bitter charges and embarrassment, and the court tion-a rule that required a year's resi countercharges in divorce litigation in would gladly avoid the responsi dence in Oregon before admission of Wasco County; the mysterious murder bility of determining it. Courts, a lawyer on certificate from another of her husband by gunshot wound; her however, have no discretion in state or territory. Mary Leonard ob indictment for murder, with attendant such cases . . . [citing and discuss tained permission to argue her case widespread newspaper publicity ing a Massachusetts case] . .. This upon this point, and her argument was throughout the Northwest; 11 months is the first application of the kind reported and quoted fully in the Morn imprisonment in The Dalles without in this State that the court has any ing Oregonian, captioned under the bail, despite continuing requests by her cognizance of, and it is very gen headline "A Woman Lawyer." lawyers for a speedy trial; her eventual erally understood that women are trial and acquittal. disqualified from holding such po The following brief extract from her By 1883 (after an interlude during sitions. The legislative assembly argument to the court, pleading her which she operated various boarding has not manifested any intention cause, will be read with interest: houses in Portland) Mary Leonard was by any act it has adopted to con "The stress and importance laid in Seattle, Washington Territory, study fer such a right upon them, and it upon this rule by the court has ing law (or, in the then vernacular, would be highly improper for the caused me to search for the reason, "reading the law") with Colonel J. C. courts of the State to take the ini to make inquiries and look up the Haines, of the prestigious Seattle law tiative in so important a move record as to what evidence has firm Struve, Haines and McMicken. In ment. ... been furnished by attorneys admit 1884 she was examined by a panel of ted since. It appears that this strin three lawyers, who certified to her The only remaining barrier seemed gent rule has not been applied or proficiency in all branches of the law, to be the legislature, and Mary Leonard enforced in a single instance, al and early in 1885 she was admitted to was not daunted. She was in Salem though since the adoption thereof practice law in all the courts of Wash during the next session, a special ses twelve attorneys have been admit ington Territory. sion called in the fall of 1885. The first ted- five of those since the rule In March 1885 Mary Leonard was legislator who arrived in Salem was was published in book form. again in Oregon seeking admission to Senator J. M. Siglin, who represented If in its discretion the court saw practice law before the bars of all the Coos and Curry counties, and it was fit to treat these men with such courts of the state of Oregon, as well Senator Siglin who introduced Senate consideration, then may I ask who as of the federal court in Oregon. The Bill 50, enacted into law and signed by is entitled to more consideration federal court posed no problem. Judge Governor Z. F. Moody November 20, than I am? Since I have been de Deady, citing the federal Act of 1879, 1885. It simply provided that "hereaf prived of practicing my profession which allowed women to practice in ter women shall be admitted to the for the last twelve months, having the Supreme Court of the United States, practice of law as attorneys, in the made my arrangements and my admitted Mary Leonard promptly on courts of this State, upon the same terms calculations under the old rule, March 17, 1885. and conditions as men." and knowing nothing else until a But just nine days before, the Oregon It seemed surely that the last obstacle month ago, when the rules were Supreme Court per curiam had denied had been overcome. But on Mary (Continued on page 10 )

9 Central Oregon PIONEERS cont. Women Lawyers published, I am now pleading to this court not to impose upon me Hosts Board of a hardship which the court deems too hard for a strong, free and un Governors' Visit fettered man to bear. ... "

Central Oregon Women Lawyers The Supreme Court capitulated and hosted a visit from the Oregon State Bar Oregon had its first woman lawyer. Board of Governors on May 3 in Bend. Mary Leonard's practice, which she Present to welcome the visitors were carried on until a few !XIOnths before Grace Williams, Terri Hutchens, Beth her death in 1912, wa's principally a Rolph, Lynn Jarvis, Carol Amen, Ann criminal practice in the police courts. Postlewaite, Alta Brady, Liz Fancher, It was not very remunerative and she Denise Frisbee, Marge Garrow, and died impoverished. Debra Kronenberg. Coming from. the Her life, like that of many lawyers, Board of Governors' meeting in Prin Jamese Rhoades in the was often fraught with controversy. In eville were Agnes Petersen, Ruth Spotlight an interview in 1948, Florence Olson, Spetter, Sylvia Stevens, and Chuck admitted to the Oregon Bar in 1897, 11 Paulson-and from the Professional Governor Neil Goldschmidt recently years after Mary Leonard's admission, Liability Fund board meeting in Sisters, appointed Jamese L. Rhoades, a dep noted that although Mary was "never Katherine H. O'Neil. uty district attorney for Marion County, highly regarded, socially... she was Grace Williams reminisced about her to a new position on the Marion County considered an able lawyer by her con early days of practice in Canyon City District Court-the first woman to be temporaries, and possessed ability beginning in 1942. She was district named to that court. In making the above the average." attorney for Grant Cgunty for 20 ye

10 I OWLS with a few hours a month to focus on helping women succeed in the pro COMING EVENTS fession. Reach out and telephone Kathryn at 297-4911. Office Elves (At Home And In The City) National Conference of Women's If you have a few odd hours to donate to OWLS on an ad hoc basis, we invite you Bar Associations, August 3-5, 1990, to telephone Diane Rynerson (235-8716) and join her in the mundane tasks (such Chicago-Diane Rynerson (contact as stuffing envelopes) that keep this organization going. jobs--such as telephon person) ing members-can often be done from your home (while the baby naps, for ex ample). No long-term commitment. Fellowship guaranteed! Fall Board Retreat, September 14- 16, 1990, Cannon Beach. Open to all By Popular Demand! members-Diane Rynerson (contact Mark your calendar for the November 17 workshop Negative Feedback and Cri person) iticism in the Workplace, led by Spring Conference presenters Dr. Helen Tevlin • Annual Bar Breakfast, October 5, and Dr. Lois Gold. 1990, Women and Minority Lawyers The workshop will be held at Lewis and Clark College, Thayer Rooms, 9:30- in the 1990~Agnes Sowle and Ar 1 :30. Call Kathryn Olney (239-3698) for more information. monica Gilford ,------, • Communications Workshop: Pre paring and Presenting a CLE, October 20, 1990--Katherine H. O'Neil L:'S Oregon Women Lawyers • Career Skills: Dealing With Difficult llllll Membership People, November 17, 1990--Kathryn OREGON Olney women Application & Renewal LAWYERS • Career Skills: Interviewing, january 1991-Diane Rynerson (contact per son) NAME ------• Burnout II Workshop, February FIRM/ORGANIZATION ------

1991- Debra Kronenberg ADDRESS ------

• Career Skills: Moving Ahead in State CITY/STATE/ZIP ------and Local Bar Associations, March 1991-Kathryn Augustson WORK PHONE ______FAX ------

• Spring Conference 1991, Ethics- LOCAL CHAPTER (if any) ------ Diane Rynerson (contact person) CHECK ONE 0 $45 ... Member (law school graduates) Network Focus Group 0 $1 0 . . . Member (graduates with incomes under $1 0,000) 0 $1 0 ... Associate (law students, out-of state lawyers, and non-lawyers) Queen's Bench and OWLS invite Port 0 $45 ... Membership Renewal (1990 dues) land area women lawyers to an infor mal monthly lunch with a strictly so SECTION MEMBERSHIPS cial focus designed to broaden our OAdmiralty 0 Health Law/Malpractice acquaintance in the practice. Venue is 0 Alternative Dispute Resolution 0 Labor Relations/Employment the Merchant Cafe, Fourth Avenue 0 Antitrust, Trade Regulation 0 Civil Litigation entrance of the Standard Insurance 0 Appellate Practice 0 Military & Veterans' Affairs Center (900 SW Fifth Avenue). Go OAviation 0 Patents & Trademarks through the cafeteria line and join the 0 Business Law 0 Pensions/ERISA group in the meeting room. First ses 0 Civil Rights 0 Public Utility Law sion: Wednesday, September 26, with 0 Computer Law 0 Real Estate & Land Use subsequent sessions planned for the last 0 Construction 0 Rights of Persons with Disabilities Wednesday of each month. Contact 0 Criminal Law 0 Securities Diane Rynerson (235-8716) for details. 0 Debtor-Creditor & Bankruptcy 0 Social Security 0 Environmental/Natural Resources 0 Taxation Mentoring For Law Students and 0 Estate Planning & Administration 0 Workers Compensation New Admittees 0 Family & juvenile Law 0 Other Practice Areas (specify) 0 Government Law Kathryn Ricciardelli is spearheading the OWLS men tori ng program for women Mail To : law students and new admittees. Oregon Women Lawyers P.O. Box 40393 Portland, Oregon 97240 _j Kathryn is looking for a few good L ------

11 And the New Memberships Keep Rolling In! Mary C. Wood Peggy Woodward NEW MEMBERS Paula Hammond Janet Prewitt Linda Zuckerman Donald S. Akins Eveleen Henry Kathleen K. Quinby Susana Alba Christine T. Herrick Betty Reed JUDGES Suzy Andersen Mary K. Hickman Elizabeth K. Reeve The Hon. Katherine English Beth Aronoff Martha M. Hicks Sheila C. Ridgway The Hon. Charles B. Guinasso Lucinda Y. Bishop Karen Hightower Holly Robinson The Hon. Milo Pope Susan Boyd Rebecca L. Hillyer Velda H. Rogers Eden Rose Brown Kathryn M. Hindman Lia Saroyan Correction: In the Spring issue, The Han. Linda Sample Brown Ann K. jerhoff Veronica M. Schnidrig joan Seitz should have been listed under Paula Brownhill Gina A. johnnie Leah M. Shearin judges. Carmen Brummer julie D. johnson Corinne C. Sherton Dorothy R. Burakreis Janet Knapp Sandra L. Skains Susan L. Burgott Sara Laumann Cynthia L. Smith LEGAL ETHICS AND Kathy Cegla Maureen Leonard Helen T. Smith Janelle Chorzempa W. Virginia McKenzie Marjorie Speirs DISCIPLINEf Nancy Craven Charles j. Merten Elizabeth M. Stephens Rand Dawson Robert L. Misner Renee M. Stewart Cynthia L. Dettman Marsha j. Naegeli Patricia Sullivan Helen C. Dillon Nancy K. Nakata Ingrid Swenson Kathleen Dodds Carol T. Nesler judith A. Swinney Marcia j. Eddy Nancy Ganong Neslund Chris Thomson Carolyn Fox Robin Nodlund Karen Duzan Thomson Holley Young Franklin joyce E. Patton Jennifer Todd Gail M. Gage Charles Paulson Mary K. VanderWeele Kim M. Garman Robin Phillips Pamela Johnstone Walsh Meredith Conant George Kathleen M. Poole Carol G. Westendorf jill E. Golden Debra E. Posen Grace K. Williams

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID OREGON PORTLAND, OR women PERMIT NO. 2346 lAW"' E R S P.O. Box 40393 Portland, Oregon 97240