Purpose & Goals

In 1977, an informal group of five women trial lawyers assembled to talk about issues that affected them as women in law. The group quickly grew, developing political, educational and outreach activities within AAJ. In 1979, AAJ officially established the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, which is composed of female lawyers who are members in good standing.

The Women's Caucus is responsible for recommending and developing education and networking programs as well as other activities of special interest to female members in the Association. The Caucus also helps to develop programs to stimulate female membership and participation in leadership roles.

The Women's Caucus Executive Committee selects a liaison from each state to serve as a liaison to the Caucus. A liaison's term is for one year (from the beginning of an Annual Convention to the end of the next). The Caucus meets periodically during the year to discuss issues that are of importance to the members. Elections for officers are held during the AAJ Annual Convention.

Women Trial Lawyers Caucus Links Events & Announcements | Purpose & Goals | Member Benefits The Women Trial Lawyers Caucus is Endowed by Roxanne Barton Conlin Events & Announcements At work for you: Women's Caucus Chair for 2007 - 2008 is: Rhonda G. Davis, Esq. Rhonda G. Davis & Associates, LLC Key Bldg., Ste. 1111 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330/374-0700 Email: RhDavis3205@netlink.net A Word from Your Chair Meet Your New Officers Kudos Corner Yvonne Flaherty, Chair Elect of AAJ’s Women’s Caucus, was made partner on January 1, 2008 with her firm, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, PLLP, in Minneapolis, MN.  Yvonne has been a member of AAJ for several years and during those years has been active in the New Lawyer’s Division, been and is now a Board of Governor, as well as serving on various Sections, Litigation Groups and AAJ Committees.  Yvonne’s practice has and will continue to focus on representing plaintiffs on mass tort, pharmaceutical/medical devices, anti-trust and consumer fraud litigation.  She has been a frequent lecturer on a variety of litigation topics, including mass torts, electronic discovery, Daubert, and the learned intermediary doctrine.  You may visit the firm’s website at www.locklaw.com for more insight. KUDOS to Yvonne Flaherty!! For Mary Lynn Tate, AAJ Board of Governor, 2006-2007 has been an abundance of honors and recognitions. Ms. Tate will be in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 for her work in the medical malpractice field. Not stopping there though, she has also received numerous honors and recognitions on the state and federal levels. To read more about Ms. Tate’s honors click here. Kudos Mary Lynn Tate! Rhonda G. Davis, Chair of the Women's Caucus, has started a new firm. Rhonda G. Davis & Associates, LLC is officially open! Her new contact information is: Key Bldg., Ste. 1111 Akron, OH 44308 Phone: 330/374-0700 Email: RhDavis3205@netlink.net Kudos Rhonda! Staci Yandle, Past Chair of the Women's Cancus and formerly with the Rex Carr Law Firm, has started a new firm. The Law Offices of Staci M. Yandle, LLC is officially open! Her new contact information is: 7012 West Main St. Belleville, IL 62223 Phone: 618/394-9600 Email: smy@yandlelaw.com Kudos Staci Yandle! Emily Hawk Raley, NLD Board of Governor, has made partner with her firm. The firms new name is, Cusmano Keener Roberts & Raley. Please visit their website: www.alabamatortlaw.com. Kudos Emily Hawk Raley!   Upcoming Events - 2008 May 1-3, Jazz Fest - Auto Cases Seminar, Omni Royal Orleans, New Orleans, LA May 15 - Women's Caucus Phonathon, The Radisson Plaza Hotel, Minneapolis, MN May 16-17 - AAJ Spring Board of Governors Meeting, The Radisson Plaza Hotel, Minneapolis, MN July 11- Women's Leadership Summit, Marriott Loews, Philadelphia, PA July 12-17- AAJ Annual Convention, Marriott Loews, Philadelphia, PA For more information on these events contact Gina Spear at gina.spear@justice.org or 800-424-2727 ext. 341. Annoucements MATA Women's Caucus Wine Tasting Benefit On February 13, 2008, the newly reformed Women's Caucus of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys hosted a wine tasting benefit for On The Rise, a Cambridge, Massachusetts based organization supporting women who are homeless or in crisis and have fallen through the cracks in our social service system. The organization offers women a safe place to stay during the daytime, practical necessities including meals, clothing, showers, access to phones, an address, and the support of advocates working with the women to help address their challenges. The benefit, which included tastings of six wines, fabulous food, chocolates donated by Fascia's Chocolates in Connecticut and about fifty people in attendance, raised over $500 for On The Rise, along with a mountain of clothing donations. MATA Women's Caucus and On The Rise From left to right standing are Kristen Johnson, Esq., Carol Goss (Board President, On The Rise), Gillian Grossman (Director of Development and Communications, On The Rise), Lauren Guth Barnes, Esq., Donna Thach (Development Associate, On The Rise) and Ruth Woods Dunham (Executive Director, On The Rise). Seated are Kim Dougherty, Esq. and Debra Gaw, Esq. MATA President Paul Leavis The Active Ingredient Band For more information about the event or other ideas for your state's Women's Caucus, or for help getting your state's caucus off the ground, please contact Lauren Barnes at lauren@hbsslaw.com or 617-482-3700. Member Benefits In addition to the many benefits associated with your general AAJ membership, women trial attorney members also enjoy these benefits: AAJ Staff Contact Info AAJ Benefits - All Members Women's Caucus On-line Discussion Group (List Server) Women’s Caucus Executive Committee Officers Women's Caucus State Delegates Women's Caucus Newsletters Sections | Litigation Groups TRIAL Magazine Informative Article: Excellence in Legal Writing Add a link to the Women's Caucus Homepage Lobby Days - Lobby Days provides a great opportunity to meet members of Congress to discuss critical issues facing the trial lawyer community. The battle for civil justice is each of our day-to-day activity; bringing it to the halls of Congress makes Lobby Days a very special day indeed. Take a look...... Lobby Days 2005 - News & Photos Lobby Days 2007 - News & Photos   For more information or to get involved in the Caucus, please contact Staff Liaison Gina Spear at 800-424-2725, ext. 341, or gina.spear@justice.org.