It is hard to believe we are just a few weeks away from 2023! NJWLA had a busy Fall of networking and CLE programs that brought so many of our members back together in person after far too long. We were able to reconnect with many of our loyal members and fortunate enough to meet a bunch of new members and friends of NWLA with our September mentoring event, our Fall Kickoff Cocktail Party, a night at the theatre with George Street Playhouse, virtual Lunch With a Stylist, our Women’s Power Hours, a Jury Bias Program that we co-hosted with our fellow diversity bar associations and the continuation of our programming on Client Originations and Management. We are grateful to the firms that have hosted our programs and the event sponsors that make our work possible.
On December 6th, NWLA had its annual Holiday Party, hosted at the always impressive and generous offices of Lowenstein Sandler LLP and co-sponsored by Bressler, Amery & Ross and Lowenstein Sandler LLP. We had a fabulous event and were thrilled to have a great turnout of NWLA members to kick off the holiday season and wind down 2022. NJWLA was fortunate to be introduced to a wonderful charitable partner in Mary’s Place by the Sea and we were even more impressed by the generosity of our members once they were introduced to the organization whose mission is to support women with cancer through integrative services which complement their medical treatment and empower, educate and support their healing: mind, body and soul.
As we wind down 2022 and offer thanks to our sponsors and host firms, we are gearing up for 2023 with our Grants Program and our Law School Scholarship Program. In 2022, NWLA funded $25,000 in grants to 501(c)3 organizations whose mission is in line with NJWLA’s mission and also awarded $15,000 in scholarships to New Jersey law students. In 2023, we plan to continue these programs that will help to advance and retain women of all backgrounds in the legal profession, to promote qualified women to the highest levels of law firm, government, academic, community and corporate positions, and to endorse qualified female attorneys for appointments to the state and federal judiciary.
On March 28, 2023, NJWLA will hold its 15th Annual WILL Platinum Gala at The Grove in Cedar Grove. This year we have the honor of recognizing the following: Judicial Sector – Federal: Honorable Karen M. Williams, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Judicial Sector – State: Honorable Karen M. Cassidy New Jersey Superior Court, Union County Assignment Judge (Retired), Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC; Private Sector: Raymond Brown, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. & Wanda Akin Brown, Wanda M. Akin & Associates; In House: Annmarie Simeone, Associate General Counsel, Rutgers University; NJWLA Past President;; Public Sector: Honorable Yolanda Ciccone, Middlesex County Prosecutor, Former New Jersey Superior Court, Vicinage 13 Assignment Judge; Trailblazer Award: Kim Mutcherson, Co-Dean (Camden); Rutgers Law School & Rose Cuison-Villazor, Interim Co-Dean (Newark); Rutgers Law School. We will also be recognizing our Grant Recipients and Scholarship Winners from Seton Hall Law School and Rutgers Law School – Newark and Camden campuses. Thank you to all of our Gala sponsors and attendees for your generous support that permits us to continue these important programs. Please follow the links in this email or at njwla.org to find out more about this year’s impressive honorees and the various sponsorship opportunities available.
NJWLA is proud to continue to offer these programs and events throughout the year and we thank our hosts and sponsors who provide us with invaluable support. If you would like to be more involved in NJWLA, please contact us or join us at one of our upcoming events. And for those of you that have been engaged throughout the year, thank you for your continued enthusiasm and support!
We look forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming programs either virtually or in person and at our Gala on March 28th. Until then, on behalf of NJWLA, we hope you enjoy a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy & prosperous New Year!
Diana C. Manning, NJWLA President