Membership Benefits

Joining the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association will enhance your life as a female attorney!  Members not only enjoy the camaraderie of fellow women attorneys but also enjoy member rates for our monthly luncheon programs and our various CLE programs.  All members have access to the membership directory and networking services along with the opportunity for professional and personal growth through participation in one of our numerous committees, mentorship and/or public service projects. 

Starting in September until May, we host monthly luncheon programs at the Bull & Bear Club located in downtown Richmond.  While enjoying a tasty lunch with old friends and new acquaintances, members get to hear about a variety of topics from the hottest legal issues to the latest trends!  Last bar year, we started off with a slide presentation by Lucy Meade of Richmond Renaissance regarding the projects throughout Richmond that are revitalizing our city.  In October, the Virginia State Bar President Karen Gould spoke to us about the state of affairs of indigent defense and issues of judicial independence.  As the holidays approached, our November luncheon program focused on three aspects of self-care: how to stay healthy from the CEO of Virginia Health, how to treat yourself to spa treatments on a budget from beauty expert and author Susie Galvez, and finally how to treat yourself (and your family) with culinary dinners from Chef Maura.  In December, we held our annual awards luncheon and recognized Phoebe P. Hall as the 2006-2007 Woman of Achievement.  We started off 2007 with First Lady of Virginia Anne B. Holton speaking to us about balancing work and family.  Next we had an Ethics CLE (as always members only paid $17!!) with Bob Eicher.  For the March annual Pro Bono program, we were graced with Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Lacey as our guest speaker.   In April, we held our annual Legislative Luncheon with a panel of both senior and junior state legislators speaking about the bills they sponsored and the legislative process (again CLE credit for just $17).  Finally, we ended the year in May with our annual business luncheon.

 No matter what interests you, MRWBA offers an activity that will match that interest! 

If you are a planner, members have the ability to get involved in all aspects of MRWBA by joining one or more of our 10 committees: Awards, CLE, Finance, Legislative, Membership, Mentorship, Programs, Public Relations, Public Service and Richmond Women’s Business Consortium.

Or if you prefer to get in the action without long term commitment, you can just choose to participate in the activities these committees arrange.  For example:

                 Looking for professional guidance?  Then take advantage of attorney mentorship where an attorney with 2 years or less of practice experience gets assigned an attorney Mentor to help navigate practicing law in Richmond. 

                 Want to help a lawyer-to-be?  Then volunteer to mentor a local female law student. 

                 Interested in giving back to the community?  Sign up to volunteer for one of the many opportunities hosted by the Public Service Committee.  Like through our Award-winning partnership with Thomas Jefferson High School, where we present relevant legal topics to various classes and introduce the students to different aspects of the legal field, e.g. Moot Court or tours of the local courts.  Or through involvement with our Award-winning Domestic Relations booklet that is published and distributed across the state to local courts, social service agencies and nonprofits.  Or simply participate in a public service event like Race for the Cure or the fundraising/item drives for local shelters or families in need. 

                 Does state legislation interest you?  Then help organize the annual Legislative luncheon which has our State Senators and Representatives speak to us about their sponsored bills and what happens on the floor and committees. 

Whether you are a new or more seasoned attorney, membership in the MRWBA will be a rewarding endeavor.  We all struggle to balance work and personal life, so why walk that tightrope alone?  Come join the MRWBA and experience an association that understands and offers a supportive atmosphere where you can develop friendships that will last a lifetime. 

Hope to see you soon. 

Ali Silva Fannon

Membership Chair

Questions about membership?  Please contact me at ali.fannon@comcast.net or 400-7795.