2015 Fall Advancesheet

TM Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 26, No. 4 Fall 2015 26 years of breaking barriers Gov. Brown on Issues Important to OWLS 1989 -2015 By Heather L. Weigler lthough OWLS member Kate Brown didn’t expect to become governor this past February, she’s already made her mark President A Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick on Oregon’s highest office. Beyond her status Vice President, President-Elect as the state’s second female governor and the Laura Craska Cooper nation’s first openly bisexual governor, she has Secretary continued her years of work, as a legislator Hon. Allison Boomer and as secretary of state, making government Treasurer more accountable and standing up for working Angela Franco Lucero families. Among other things, during her first six Historian months in office, Governor Brown spearheaded Amber Hollister significant ethics reforms and signed the “motor Board Members Jacqueline Alarcón voter” bill, making Oregon the first state to adopt Megan Burgess opt-out voter registration. In other words, she Maya Crawford wasted no time rolling up her sleeves and making Kristina Holm Susan Bradley Krant the job her own. Katharine Lozano OWLS had the opportunity to ask Governor Governor Kate Brown Hon. Valeri Love Brown a few questions about issues that matter Aruna Masih Banafsheh Violet Nazari to our members. Her answers are reprinted below. A. My judicial appointments will reflect my Jennifer Nicholls u u u values of diversity and equity, broadly construed. Susan Pitchford For example, geographic diversity on the Court Kristin Sterling Q. In your past roles, you have demonstrated a of Appeals and Supreme Court is an important Amanda Thorpe deep commitment to promoting diversity in law Val Tomasi consideration in a state like ours. But most of and politics and to advancing civil rights. How do Gloria Trainor all, I value highly qualified candidates who bring Jim Yocom you hope to reflect those commitments in your significant, relevant experience to the role, and work as Governor? Past Presidents who will be thoughtful stewards of the law. I Kendra Matthews A. The best reflection of a commitment to also look for a strong work ethic and passion Kathleen Rastetter diversity is diversity. State government has Megan Livermore for justice—the job calls for work horses, not made surprisingly little progress over the past Heather L. Weigler show ponies. Concetta Schwesinger decade in its efforts to demonstrate the shared Q. You are a longtime OWLS member and a Gwyneth McAlpine values of equity and inclusion in the workforce Heather Van Meter recipient of the Justice Betty Roberts Award. How Laura Caldera Taylor —particularly in management positions. As has your involvement in OWLS influenced your Kellie Johnson Governor, I can best set the example by building Norma S. Freitas legal and/or political career? an administration that reflects the many faces of Kate A. Wilkinson A. I have always found that staying active Jennifer K. De Wald Oregon. Since taking office in February, I have with the Oregon State Bar and OWLS provides Sarah J. Crooks been working to assemble a diverse leadership Elizabeth Schwartz a wonderful opportunity to explore all of the team both within the Governor’s Office and Lori E. Deveny things you can do with your law practice. There Debra Pilcher Velure among state agency leadership. Additionally, are many different roles available to lawyers, Marilyn E. Litzenberger my administration will take a new approach Teresa M. Kraemer including enormous opportunities in the public to developing and evaluating legislation and Patricia L. Heatherman policy arena, even if you don’t want to run for Julie Levie Caron policies, replacing the old model of consolidating public office. Phylis Chadwell Myles responsibility among one or two staff members Helle Rode u u u Diana Craine with one that integrates those principles into Kathryn M. Ricciardelli the work responsibilities of advisors across all To learn more about Governor Brown’s values Agnes Sowle policy areas. and vision for Oregon, visit www.oregon.gov/gov/ Katherine H. O’Neil Q. One of the biggest influences a Governor pages/index.aspx. To support her 2016 election Editor campaign, visit www.katebrownfororegon.com. Elise Gautier wields over the legal profession is judicial [email protected] appointments. What do you look for in candidates Heather L. Weigler is an assistant attorney general www.oregonwomenlawyers.org when making judicial appointments? at the Oregon Department of Justice. OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 FALL 2015 President’s Message hat’s hesitate to promote themselves (with that in most other states. And that we Wsizzling good reason, apparently: self-promotion do more for more members than some in the city of by women is often poorly received), they organizations in much larger states with Chicago in are fierce and eloquent advocates for much bigger budgets. One woman—from July? Well, others at their firms. Dr. Reeves’s book Colorado—even approached me to tell everything. recommends ways in which women can me that her membership views OWLS as But also work in teams to take advantage of the model of what their organization . Oregon this quality and achieve greater career would like to become. Women success. And to top it off, the NCWBA presented Lawyers! In a portion of the summit called OWLS with the 2015 Outstanding On July 31, “Best Practices,” representatives from Member Program Award, for the Elizabeth T. Milesnick OWLS Exec- different states took turns going to Women’s Trial Academy developed and utive Director the podium to share ideas for new led by OWLS members Lisa Kaner and Linda Tomassi, OWLS Foundation programs and practices. I discussed Renée Rothauge of Markowitz Herbold. President-elect Deanna Wray, and I OWLS’ efforts—stemming from a thread Last month, a lawyer on the governing attended the 2015 Women’s Bar Leader- on our magnificent listserv—to identify, board of the Association for Women ship Summit, “Forging New Paths— promote, and publicize clean and private Attorneys in New Orleans emailed me Women, Careers & the Law,” presented lactation spaces for women lawyers to find out more about the program so by the National Conference of Women’s in courthouses and at the state bar that her organization can present a trial Bar Associations (NCWBA) and OWLS’ facility. (See www.oregonwomenlawyers. advocacy seminar of its own. own Diane Rynerson, who is also the org/resources/lactation-facilities-for- Attending the NCWBA summit left executive director of the NCWBA. This breastfeeding-mothers/.) Ideas from me with many thoughts and ideas, but terrific conference was attended by other states included collecting and chief among them is that I am so proud women lawyers from 29 states and the publicizing data on gender parity, a of what we are doing as Oregon Women U.S. military, who came together to get listserv to reach less-populated areas of Lawyers. Since our founding mothers’ to know one another, address the latest the state, salary negotiation workshops, first efforts in 1988, we have continued issues facing women in the law, and share events for lawyer-parents, mentorship to grow and thrive thanks to the ideas about what works. programs, an annual dinner to bring leadership provided by the OWLS Board The keynote speaker, Dr. Arin Reeves, members together from around the of Directors, the statewide chapters, the was both fascinating and inspiring. She is state, forums to raise awareness about OWLS Foundation, our amazing staff, our a former lawyer with a PhD in sociology possibilities for women in the judiciary, dedicated and hard-working committee and is also a researcher, author, and opportunities to network with women chairs and members, mentors, speakers, advisor in the fields of leadership and judges, ways to make women aware of sponsors, listserv contributors, and all inclusion. She discussed some of the leadership opportunities, and presenting those others who provide resources research and conclusions set forth in awards to individuals who have advanced and support to women and minorities her 2014 book, One Size Never Fits All: opportunities for women in the legal in the Oregon legal profession. Make Business Development Strategies Tailored profession. no mistake: we have built something for Women (And Most Men), regarding I was surprised and so pleased to hear remarkable together. ways in which women can capitalize on one great idea after another and realize their strengths as team-builders and allies that OWLS was already doing almost all to develop new business and advance of them in one form or another! I also within their firms. Most notably, Dr. learned that the population-adjusted Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Reeves said that while many women size of our membership well outstrips President, Oregon Women Lawyers Nominations for Roberts, Deiz Awards Due by Nov. 6 WLS invites nominations for the 24th Justice Betty Roberts and Judge Mercedes Deiz Awards. The recipients will be honored at our annual awards dinner on Friday, March 11, 2016, at the Portland Art Museum. O The Justice Betty Roberts Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting women within the legal profession and the community. The recipient of this award is a person who has influenced women to pursue legal careers, opened doors for women attorneys, or advanced opportunities for women within the profession. The Judge Mercedes Deiz Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting minorities within the legal profession and the community. The recipient of this award is a person who has influenced minorities to pursue legal careers, opened doors for minority attorneys, or advanced opportunities for minorities within the profession. Nominations must be received 5 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2015. Nomination forms are available on the OWLS website at www.

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