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6 Women's Bar Association Copies of Early Minutes, RTB, and Other Documents, 1917-2007 [1] (1985-1987)

handle is hein.peggy/wbartb0006 and id is 1 raw text is: 61 May 1985 THE WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COL.UMBIA e INCORPORATED 1917 At the April meeting, Elizabeth Guhring tells of the joys of sole practice, while fellow panelists Marjorie O'Connell and Elizabeth Langer and program chair Linda Ravdin look on. Highlights of the April Meeting April's monthly gathering of the WBA was informed and inspired by three of its own members who revealed their experiences in establishing their own practices. Elizabeth Langer graduated from Rutgers University !}hool in 1973. In 1971 while a law student she founded thu Women's Rights Law Reporter. After law school she came to Washington as a legislative assistant to Con- gresswoman Bella Abzug. There followed work as a litigator in a public interest law firm and in the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. Then, in 1983, feeling oppressed by a vision of a future dominated by bureaucracy, she became a sole practitioner. A few weeks after taking the plunge, she became pregnant and contemplated joint birth and opening practice announcements but decided against the idea. If ease and riches are what you want,said Langer, look else- where. However, for the first time, she was in control and totally responsible for her actions. She recently formed Dolkart, Langer & Zavos, an all-woman firm, in which she practices environmental, commercial and international law. She is able to arrange an essentially part-time, 30-35 hour week, 8 week vacation schedule, which accomodates her two small children. On the downside, she added, it will be several years before she achieves the equivalent of the take- home pay of her law firm and government counterparts. She advised prospective sole practitioners to utilize net- working, for both substantive advice and referrals, business lunches, volunteering for projects such as writing an amicus brief, and joining D.C. Bar committees to develop new busi- ness. You must learn the business of law-bookkeeping, rlpractice, etc. Is the risk worth it, after 16 months? Ask in another year, she said. Elizabeth Guhring, Guhring & Forbes, began her prac- tice in 1954 when she graduated from Catholic University. She has been described as the foremost domestic relations lawyer in Washington, She started out taking care of a law library in exchange for free office space, then graduated to paying rent for the worst office in the suite. She recommen- ded CJA and child neglect cases as a stable, if delayed, source of income for . the beginning practitioner. She emphasized that you must run your office like a business. She has always been selective in taking clients, right from the start. She sends each one all copies of any correspon- dence immediately, even if she can only indicate on it that her comments will follow, to avoid the information reaching them from another source. She bills monthly. Even though she has practices law for thirty years, she still attends seminars to keep current and learn new ideas. Marjorie A. O'Connell, O'Connell &. Kittrell, graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1973 and Continued on page. 2 Marna Tucker Named.Women Lawyer of The Year WBA'S Woman Lawyer of The Year award is traditionally presented to the individual selected to be so- honored at the WBA annual meeting on the fourth Tuesday of May. This year being no exception, the annual meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 28, and Mama S. Tucker, this year's recipient of the award, as well as this year's Presi- dent of the D.C. Bar, will be honored accordingly. Ms. Tucker, a partner in the firm of Boasberg, Klores, Feldeman & Tucker, is a loyal member of the Women's Bar and has, among many other speaking engagements made during her term as D.C. Bar President, appeared before the WBA (November 27, 1984) to speak about opportunites for advancing one's legal career through participation in bar activities. The WBA Annual meeting will take place at The National Lawyer's Club, beginning with a cash bar at 6:00 P.M., followed by the program, including presentation of the award, a brief history of WBA to be presented by. WBA his- torian, Stephanie Brown, announcement of officer and board member election results and other business attendant to the annual meeting. A seated dinner will follow the program. Please consult the flyer insert for details and reser- vations. Note Bene: Change of Address On June 1, 1985, the WBA is moving its offices to,750 Pennsylvania Ave NW, home of Payne Murch and Associates, an association management group. Look for a more professional and even more re- sponsive WBA! 1819 H STREET, NORTHWEST * SUITE 300 * WASHINGTON, DC 20006 * PHONE (202) 775-0420