The National Association of Women Lawyers

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The National Association of Women Lawyers®

The National Association of Women Lawyers®, founded in 1899, is the first organization of women lawyers in the United States. NAWL began decades before women won the right to vote, and long before most local and national bar associations admitted women. Some of this country's first and most prominent women lawyers were members of NAWL, including prominent women lawyers Florence E. Allen of Ohio, the nation's first woman federal judge; Clara Shortridge Foltz, California's first woman lawyer; and Olive Stott Gabriel, who argued for women's voting rights before audiences across the country.

NAWL continues to serve as the national women’s bar association, and is steadfast in its support and advancement of the interests of women in and under the law. NAWL actively works towards the social, political, and professional empowerment of women. NAWL members, which include both women and men, work to end discrimination and violence against women and to prevent the erosion of hard-fought gains.

Today NAWL calls for action on continuing issues facing women lawyers, including gender bias, women’s health, violence in the workplace and balancing life and career. Through educational programs, publication of the quarterly Women Lawyers Journal, studies, press releases and seminars, NAWL promotes public dialogue and influences public policy and attitudes on issues affecting women. NAWL is organized by issue-related committees, assuring flexibility, diversity and a capacity for quick response.

NAWL members serve as delegates and liaisons to national and international organizations, including:

ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
The United Nations (as an official non-governmental organization observer)
National Conference of Women's Bar Associations
La Federation Internationale des Femmes Carierres Juridiques

NAWL promotes positive role models with an award program that recognizes law firms with family-friendly policies, attorneys and judges who have demonstrated commitment to the ideals of justice and equality and outstanding law students who will be the women leaders of the future. NAWL also tracks federal legislation that impact women and publishes such information to its members.

In accordance with NAWL’s commitment to expanding professional opportunities for women attorneys, the 4th Edition of the National Directory of Women-Owned Law Firms and Women Lawyers will be published in the summer of 2003. An invaluable legal resource for in-house counsel, the Directory allows clients to easily find the right lawyer for the job – and gives women lawyers the opportunity to present themselves to a wider array of potential clients. The Directory is distributed at no cost to in-house counsel and at a nominal fee to others. For a copy of the Directory, contact the executive offices at the number listed below.

We hope you will join us in our next 100 years and become a part of the history and the future of women lawyers in this country.

The National Association of Women Lawyers
American Bar Center, MS 12.4
750 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-988-6186 Fax: 312-988-6281
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.nawl.org