Minutes
Archived Minutes Here

9/10/12 | 10/8/12 | 11/12/13 | 12/10/12 | 1/14/13 | 2/11/13 | 3/11/14

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for March 11, 2013

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, March 11, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair),  Heather Keliebenstien (Co-Chair), Rachel Kitze, Kendra Brodin, Ellie Krug, Dana Bartocci, Ashley Wenger (phone), Ashlee Bekish, and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff).

Guest: Sarah Rohne – ABA Commission on Women in the Legal Profession

Update on SAGE Best Practices
The Resolutions and Report were submitted to the MSBA on March 8. Erin Darda and Kendra Brokdin will present at the General Policy Committee on March 13 at 3:30 p.m. If approved, the Resolutions and Report will go to the Assembly for final approval and adoption on April 25.

Update on Law School Panels
The joint panel with MWL at the University of Minnesota will be held April 11 at Noon.  An email will be sent out to the Committee soliciting volunteers for the panel (one mid-level, one with 10 years practice experience, and one with 20 years practice experience).  Rachel Kitze will send questions to Erin Darda (generational gaps in communication, how to view success, work-life balance issues).

Still working on the panel at William Mitchell.

Update on Negotiating CLE

• Tentatively scheduled for June
• Potential speakers include a magistrate judge from the federal bench, Magistrate Judge Maron, Mary-Margaret Zindren (HCBA Executive Director), Terri Krivosha (transactional attorney from Maslon).  Erin will contact Terri, and Ellie will contact Mary-Margaret.

Trans Gender CLE

• Tentatively scheduled for middle of May
• Speakers: Ellie Krug (male to female perspective), Devin Mead (female to male perspective
• Moderator: Rebecca Wagner (OutFront Minnesota)
• Hosting firm: Robins Kaplan

Revisit Military Spouse Initiative

• Sarah Novak, Leslie Altman, and Ashley Wenger (original Subcommittee members)
• More help is needed with this initiative. It has been stalled since the passing of Leslie Altman. The Committee feels the need to follow through with this in honor of Leslie, who really pushed for this initiative.
• Leslie was responsible for drafting the Recommendation – Heather Kleibenstein volunteered to take over this portion (Ashley Wenger: rule change; Sarah Novak: background information).
•  

Next Meeting
The Committee will meet next on April 8, 2013 at noon at the MSBA offices.

Meeting adjourned.

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for February 11, 2013

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, February 11, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair),  Anna Kim, Krista Schneider, Kendra Brodin, Rachel Kitze, Greta Rudolph, Dana Bartocci, Ellie Krug, and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff).

Update on SAGE Best Practices
The working group will meet early next week to finalize the Resolution and Report, which is due no later than March 13 in order to make it on the April 15 Assembly agenda for approval.

Update on Law School Panels
The panel for the U of M will likely be in April.  Rachel Kitze will update at the next meeting.

Update on Negotiating CLE
Tabled to the next meeting.

Revisit Military Spouse Initiative
Tabled to the next meeting.

Next Meeting
The Committee will meet next on March 11, 2013 at noon at the MSBA offices.

Meeting adjourned.

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for January 14, 2013

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, January 14, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair), Heather Kliebenstein (Co-Chair), Ellie Krug, Jennifer Jameson, Anna Horning Nygren, Ashlee Bekish, Kendra Brodin, Dana Bartoci, Rachel Kitze, Sarah Novak (by phone); and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff).

**The Committee congratulated Co-Chair Heather Kliebenstein on making partner at her law firm – Merchant and Gould.  Congratulations Heather!**

SAGE Best Practices
Erin Darda reported that the revised SAGE Best Practices document was approved by the Committee at the December meeting.  The document will need to go through the MSBA General Policy Committee first, then to the MSBA Assembyl for approval. The Committee (via its newly formed SAGE subcommittee) will be putting together a Report and Recommendation to be submitted by March 13 to the MSBA for its April 15 Assembly.  Subcommittee members include: Kendra Brodin, Ellie Krug, Anna Horning Nygren, Jennifer Jameson, and Sarah Novak.  The Committee will also ask to be on the next Diversity Committee meeting agenda, which is scheduled for February 1 at noon.  Tram will check with Alan Haynes, Chair of the Diversity Committee, to see if this is possible.

Law School Panels
Rachel Kitze suggested that there be a joint-panel/event with MWL, in either February or April.  The Committee thought it was a good idea, and decided on April due to timing.  Topics suggested from the U of M WILSA included:  how to network; what success means for women attorneys; transitions between careers; and working through generational issues.  The Committee thought all those were great topics and asked Rachel to follow up with her board to see which of those topics they’d like us to present on.  Rachel will report back at the next meeting.

Professional Development CLE
The Committee brainstormed on possible topics and decided to do one on negotiating. The last time the Committee held one on this topic was in September of 2009.  Heather Kleibenstein will lead the planning group, with Dana Bartocci and Ashlee Bekish as members. It is tentatively scheduled for the spring. 

Director of Diversity and Inclusion (DDI) Report and Recommendation
Erin Darda reported that we received 9 votes all in support of the DDI Report. We needed 10 votes for full committee endorsement. The final report was submitted to the MSBA leadership on December 31, and will be on the MSBA Council on February 15 for approval.  Rachel Kitze did not vote via email but voted in support of the report at today’s meeting so that brought the total votes to 10. Erin noted that the Diversity Committee should feel free to indicate to the MSBA Council that the WLP Committee is in support of the report at the February 15 Council meeting.  Erin also volunteered to provide a letter in support if necessary.

Next Meeting
The Committee will meet next on February 11, 2013 at noon at the MSBA offices. We will add back on the agenda the military spouse initiative.

Meeting adjourned.

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for December 10, 2012

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, January 14, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair), Heather Kliebenstein (Co-Chair), Anna Horning Nygren, Jennifer Jameson, Ashlee Bekish, Tara Kalar, and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff).

SAGE Best Practices
The Committee voted to adopt the revised SAGE Best Practices document, which was circulated via email to the committee prior to the meeting.  The next step is to write a report and recommendation and submit it by March 13 for the April 25 MSBA Assembly for approval.  The Committee will also ask to be on the agenda for one of the upcoming meetings of the Diversity Committee to fill them in so everyone is on the same page.

Law School Panels
No update.

Professional Development CLE
This item was tabled to the January meeting.

Diversity Committee Recommendation for a Director of Diversity and Inclusion (DDI)
The Committee held a lengthy discussion about the report, which was circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting.  The general consensus from the committee members present was that while they are supportive of the concept, they also had some concerns that need to be addressed before a formal vote.   Erin Darda will follow up with David Ahlvers on those concerns and will plan to attend the final meeting of the Diversity Strategic Committe on December 20 to voice those concerns to the larger group.  The Committee will have a chance to vote via email before the final report is to be submitted to the MSBA on December 31, 2012.

Next Meeting:
The Committee will meet next on January 14, 2013 at noon at the MSBA offices.

Meeting adjourned.

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for November 12, 2012

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, November 12, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair), Heather Kliebenstein (Co-Chair, via phone), Ashley Wenger, Greta Rudolph, Sarah Demmers, Kendra Brodin (via phone)  and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff)

The Committee held a special meeting to review the draft updated SAGE Best Practices, which was circulated via email to the full Committee prior to the meeting.  The Committee members present reviewed and made some recommended changes to the draft document. The revised draft document will be circulated again to the full committee for comments before the December meeting.  At the December meeting, the final draft will be voted on to move forward.  Upon Committee approval, it will be circulated to the MSBA Diversity Committee for comments/support; and finally  put on the MSBA Assembly meeting agenda for a vote at the April 25 Assembly meeting.

Next Meeting:
The Committee will meet next on December 12, 2012 at noon at the MSBA offices. On the agenda will be brainstorming for possible topics for a professional development CLE or another SAGE roundtable.

Meeting adjourned.

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for October 8, 2012

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, September 10, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair), Heather Kliebenstein (Co-Chair), Rachel Kitze, Greta Rudolph, Emma Maddy, Julia Habach, Krista Schneider, Dana Bartocci,  Kendra Brodin, and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff)

Report Sage Roundtable – September 27, 2012 at Noon at the MSBA Offices
Topic:  What Private Practice Can Learn from Corporate and Public Legal Employers
We had great turn-0ut – 52 registered; 45 total attendance. 

Update on SAGE Best Practice/SAGE Award
A draft report will be circulated to the full committee for comments prior to the November meeting.  We will devoted a special 90 minute meeting in November to review and discuss the proposed changes. The notice should make it clear to members that is the sole purpose of the meeting.

Update on Provisional Bar Membership for Military Spouse
Tabled to the December meeting.

Update on Law School Panels
Tabled to the December meeting.

Next Meeting
The committee will hold an extended meeting from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on November 12 to review and discuss the draft updated SAGE Best Practices. 

Meeting adjourned.

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee
Meeting Summary for September 10, 2012

The Women in the Legal Profession Committee met on Monday, September 10, 2012 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the offices of the Minnesota State Bar Association.

In Attendance: Erin Knapp Darda (Co-Chair), Heather Kliebenstein (Co-Chair), Ashley Wenger, Anna Kim,  Emma Maddy, Julia Habach, Anna Horning Nygren, Ashlee Bekish, Krista Schneider, , Dana Bartocci, and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff)

The Co-Chairs welcomed everyone to the Committee and thanked everyone for attending.  Introductions were made.

An honorable mention was made regarding Leslie Altman’s recent passing.   Leslie was a long-time devoted member of this committee and will be missed.  The Committee will be giving a memorial gift to “The Altman Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation” in memory of Leslie; and will also name the SAGE Award in Leslie’s name.

Sage Roundtable – September 27, 2012 at Noon at the MSBA Offices
Topic:  What Private Practice Can Learn from Corporate and Public Legal Employers

Confirmed speakers:  Jim Rowader, Vice President, General Counsel Employee and Labor Relations at Target; Liz Cutter, Senior Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Violent Crimes Division; and Susan Gaertner, former Ramsey County Attorney and now a Principal at Gray Plant Mooty

Moderator:  Ashley Wenger

All committee members are encouraged to attend for a good showing.  A notice will be emailed out to the Women in the Legal Profession and Diversity Committees, as well as Minnesota Women Lawyers and the law school WILSA groups, in the next couple of days.  It will also be posted on the Committee’s website and featured in MSBA Legal News Digest (which goes out via email weekly on Wednesdays to all MSBA members).

Update on SAGE Award
The Subcommittee (Kendra Brodin, Erin Knapp Darda and Ana Horning Nygren) met over the summer to update the SAGE Guidelines and SAGE award.  A revised draft report with recommended changes will be available at the next meeting.  It was suggested that the SAGE Award be named after Leslie Altman to honor all of her work and contributions to the Committee.  The Committee unanimously agreed that was a good idea.

Update on Provisional Bar Membership for Military Spouse
Sophane Te, a 2007 graduate of St. Thomas Law School and a military spouse who is very involved in the JD Network, is helping draft some model provisions for Minnesota. The report is partially drafted.  More updates will be given at the next meeting.

Update on Law School Panels
The Co-Chairs will reach out to the four law schools.  Updates will be given at the next meeting.

Report on Joint CLE Program with Diversity Committee on the 2011 SAGE Report
The CLE was held on June 28, 2012 in conjunction with Nine Days in June (the MSBA annual convention) and was very well attended.  Feedback has been positive.  

Meeting Schedule for 2012-2013
The Committee will continue to meet monthly on the second Monday of the month at Noon at the MSBA offices.  The next meeting is October 8.

Meeting adjourned.