Women in Law 2023 Retreat – A Resounding Success
This past weekend, well over 100 women from the five hosting states (KY, NC, TN, VA, and WV) and many others (e.g., MO, MD) met at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center for three days of wellness building, professional development, and networking.
Participants attended the 11 presentations from which they earned 12 to 16 CLE Credit hours, depending on the approving state. Sessions included judicial and ethics panels, providing a multi-state perspective from judges and members of state bars. Individual presenters covered issues including the impact of women’s health, imposter syndrome, vicarious trauma, depression, anxiety, and addiction on our practices. The networking dinner featured the amazing keynote speaker, Virginia attorney Cathy Lee, who shared her personal story of recovery and renewal, from license revocation to becoming general counsel of a large statewide advocacy organization.
Some attendees from different states met friends from law school and earlier in practices at a convenient middle location and others came, met new colleagues, and left with new friends.
Attendees had the following closing comments:
- I truly believe I will be a better attorney and advocate due to the learnings in this conference.
- Super-beneficial to renew well-being and apply teachings that cover tough, “real” challenged in practice.
- I learned about a lot of resources I did not know about and learned about new information
- This conference is a “must” for all women lawyers.
Plans are already underway the event to be held next year, again in Women’s History Month!