On May 13, 2021, LawBank sponsored the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys’ “Women-Owned Businesses” Panel. The panel was moderated by Meranda Vieyra, Founder and CEO of Denver Legal Marketing. Panelists included Dee Sull, Shane Jasmine Young, Augusta Massey, and Marjorie Guymon. Dee is the Managing Partner of Sull & Associates, and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Shane is the Founding Attorney at Young Law Group and is a member of the State Bar of Nevada. Augusta is the Managing Attorney at Massey & Associates. Marjorie is the Managing Partner at Goldsmith & Guymon P.C.
SNAWA is the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys. It is the second top attorney association in Southern Nevada. Its mission is to support the success and influence of women in the legal community. SNAWA offers its members a variety of networking opportunities, CLE credits, and social events. Membership costs and donations go toward law school scholarships for female students of the Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
To begin the discussion, panelists introduced themselves and shared the changes they have seen throughout their careers helping promote women in law. Panelists agreed that more law firms offer paid maternity leave and, overall, embrace and support mothers in law. They also see a shift in the judiciary in Nevada. Women are getting voted in and doing well on the bench, creating more opportunities for female lawyers. Meranda then asked the group where they see a need for improvement when it comes to empowering women in law. Panelists suggested more mentorship for women coming out of law school. The group also agreed that even though many firms are making strides in diversity, inclusion and equity efforts, there is still much room for growth, especially when it comes to women entering the C-Suite.
Meranda shared the statistic that women of color are significantly underrepresented in law firms. According to a McKinsey study, women of color account for 16 percent of attorneys at the entry-level. However, this group experiences the steepest decline in representation as attorneys’ careers advance. Meranda asked panelists to share how law firms can create inclusive cultures where women of color are represented, recognized, and awarded. The group suggested a strong DEI program led by the right person and a mentorship program where women of color can have a champion that ensures they have a seat at the table. The panel wrapped up their discussion by addressing how law firms can support women attorneys impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the suggestions was a call to offer and utilize support groups or employee assistance programs.
To learn more about the Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys, click here. Visit the events page to view upcoming programs hosted and sponsored by LawBank.
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