The Honorable Lois H. Goodman offered the opening remarks and administered the oath of office to incoming NJWLA President, Annmarie Simeone, and the entire board. Simeone addressed the Board about her vision for the upcoming year. She began by reflecting on NJWLA’s themes over the recent years – leaning in, leaning on, and pressing forward – and commented that NJWLA will continue to fulfill its mission this year by “reaching out.” Simeone observed that NJWLA’s collective efforts have allowed its members to act as thought leaders in the New Jersey legal community. NJWLA’s work has begun to shape the thinking of this generation of lawyers, and will hopefully influence the next generation as well, as to the critical role of women lawyers in the State. Finally, Simeone addressed her plan for the upcoming year, emphasizing the importance of consistently focusing the organization on fulfilling its mission, including a commitment to diversity and inclusion, professional development, and leadership roles for women in the law.

The NJWLA is an independent association of over fifteen hundred attorneys, law students and judges in New Jersey. Its mission is to retain women in the legal profession through education and activism; promote its members to the highest levels of law firm, government, academic, community and corporate positions; and endorse qualified female attorneys for appointments to the state and federal judiciary.