From the President

Dear Members, Colleagues, and Friends,

Welcome to another bar year! I am honored to serve as the 51st President of the Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association. This bar year I will strive to recognize the efforts of our past Presidents whose leadership skills have formed the MRWBA we all know and love, while also celebrating the accomplishments of, and building up our current members.  

I want to express my sincere appreciation to our Immediate Past President, Sherry Fox.  Sherry was the MRWBA’s 50th President and guided our continued return from pandemic status—leading us out of Zoom and into a slate of programming that was almost entirely in person. Working closely with Sherry this past bar year and on the board in past years, I have watched her lead with grace and connect with the membership while promoting the MRWBA within the community. She has truly left some big shoes to fill. 

We are not the only ones to notice Sherry’s leadership. Sherry was selected as this year’s recipient of the Virginia State Bar’s Specialty Bar Leader of the Year Award which she was presented with at the VSB Annual meeting held in June.

Our first event of the year was our Meet the Candidates luncheon on Wednesday, September 12. The event was well attended and a great way to kick off our bar year.

Speaking of "kick off", make plans to join us on September 30th for the Richmond Kickers game. Members get a free ticket and an opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for their family and friends.

We have a great slate of programs and events already in development for this bar year from luncheon programs, mentorship events and membership events. 

Please note that our events calendar is live and we will continue to update it, so mark your calendars now.

I look forward to a great bar year ahead!   

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Meet the Candidates Luncheon Held September 13th

A veritable "Who's Who" of female candidates in the greater Richmond area joined MRWBA members and guests on September 13th at Willow Oaks Country Club for a meet and greet opportunity. Pictured below at left, Lashrecse Aird who is seeking a Virginia Senate seat in the 13th District, and at right candidate literature.

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Fall Member Kickoff with the Kickers

Join the Metropolitan Richmond Women’s Bar Association for a night of fun as the Richmond Kickers take on South Georgia Tormenta FC on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

The first 50 members who RSVP will receive a complimentary ticket and may purchase discounted $13.00 tickets (tax included) for friends and family that want to join the fun.

• Kickoff 6:00 p.m.
• Gates open 4:45 p.m.

Click here to register now!

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October Program Focused on Attorney Wellness

Join MRWBA on Thursday, October 12^th, as we welcome representatives from the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program to address mental health and wellness for attorneys. Our interactive discussion with Richmond attorney Amy Pruett along with VJLAP staffers Barbara Mardigian and Charlene Reilly will explore how we can maintain a work-life balance and stay well: how exactly do you balance the needs of your children with your practice? The program is approved for one hour of CLE credit. Click here to register.

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Member Spotlight

This month’s spotlighted MRWBA member is Elizabeth Dabney of Family Law Associates of Richmond. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Washington & Lee School of Law. 

Tell us a little about yourself.  Spouse? Children? Pets?

My husband, Jimmy, and I are proud owners of our rescue boxer dog and tabby cat.

What type of law do you practice?

I practice family law and am also a certified Guardian ad litem in Henrico and Chesterfield Counties.

What have you enjoyed most about your time in MRWBA?

Being able to interact with women engaged in other types of practice – family law overlaps with so many other types of law, so being able to put names and faces to attorneys I can recommend my clients reach out to for their other legal needs has been a huge benefit.

What is the one app on your phone you cannot live without?

GPS! I have an atrocious sense of direction.

What movie or TV show can you watch over and over again, no matter how many times you have seen it?

Parks & Recreation

What is at the top of your bucket list?

Travel, generally. Orangutans are my lifelong favorite animal, so I think visiting a sanctuary might top the list.

If you were to visit my office, one of the first things you would notice would be … 

All of the artwork on my office door courtesy of my coworkers’ children.

What advice would you give to someone who just passed the bar?

Find a mentor.  Having a sounding board not only improves your work product but also helps with the stress of starting practice.