As a lawyer, I am often the only "one" in the room -- One meaning the only African-American female lawyer. Whether at the counsel table in the courtroom, a deposition, mediation, or at trial, I am usually the only one. This occurrence has been my experience since I began practicing law 21 years ago. My story is not uncommon. The American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession recently conducted a study assessing the status of women of color in the legal profession entitled "Left Out and Left Behind: The Hurdles, Hassles, and Heartaches of Achieving Long-Term Legal Careers for Women of Color." This study operated as a follow-up to a survey conducted 14 years ago which evaluated the relative experiences of women of color practicing in law firms for over 30 years. The results were alarming.

There were so few women of color nationwide meeting these criteria that researchers were able to identify 90% of women of color practicing in law firms over 30 years within minutes. As they delved deeper into the unique experiences of the women they were able to gather, to better understand why there were so few women of color with long-term legal careers, several key findings emerged. Women of color represent only approximately 2% of equity partners at large law firms. While law firms have hired more women of color as associates in the last 20 years, attrition is high, and very few attain partnership. The women surveyed across the board expressed experiencing bias, stereotyping, and racism in the workplace.

They described the challenges of isolation, when one is constantly the only woman of color in the law firm, or the courtroom, or the boardroom, and the inability of their colleagues to relate to their experiences. Many women described limited opportunities for advancement. In the end, over 70% of the women surveyed desired to leave the legal profession altogether because they did not see any viable alternative to their current situation. No one teaches this in law school. There is no preparation for it. There are few mentors available to help women understand and develop tools to cope with these challenges.

So a group of lawyers in Palm Beach County, after living through similar experiences, the 2020 reckoning on race and the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to do something to fill the gap. Desiring to provide mentorship, guidance, and support to black women lawyers, the women co-founded the Palm Beach County Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association ("SDCBWLA"). The Honorable Sheree Davis-Cunningham was the first black female judge in Palm Beach County. 

The founders--Sandra Powery Moses, Esq., Destinie Baker Sutton, Esq. and Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes, Esq. (00')--sought to create a board of charter members that reflects diversity in the areas of practice and length of experience. In addition to the wide-ranging expertise of its charter members, the organization boasts seven Judicial Advisors, all African-American women, including a U.S. magistrate, Circuit Court Judges, one County Court Judge, and two county magistrate judges. BAN President Salesia Smith-Gordon ('92), the organization's Secretary/Treasurer, and Kalinthia Dillard ('98) also serve as Charter Members.

The organization's leadership decided to provide intentional and meaningful solutions to long-term, complex problems in our profession. The mission is to provide the foundation, support, mentorship, and guidance for success as black women in the legal profession; to bridge the gap and connect each member with a hand-selected mentor or mentors, to guide them through the success and challenges in their legal careers. Ultimately, the idea is to help equip black women lawyers with the tools necessary to face the unique challenges we face every day as lawyers.

In honor of Black History Month, the organization's Inaugural Installation Ceremony will occur on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at the Fourth District Court of Appeal. The event will feature Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince, Michael G. Tanner, Esq., President of the Florida Bar, and Tricia "CK" Hoffler, Immediate Past President of the National Bar Association. Although in-person attendance is limited, the event will be live-streamed.  

To learn more about SDCBWLA, visit:
https://sdcbwla.wildapricot.org or https://www.facebook.com/SDCBWLA/.

BAN-TV presents a riveting Black History Month special! Join us as attorneys and alumni Ben Crump, Daryl Parks, and Sean Pittman discuss the strength of k Brotherhood. These powerhouse attorneys have a friendship dating back to freshman year of college. Tune in on February 21st at 7 pm as they share how their bond has been the catalyst for their success.

This special episode will be co-hosted by BAN President Salesia-Smith Gordon, Esq. and Marlon Hill, Esq.

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BAN invites you to join us for a discussion regarding the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This virtual chat will include U.S. Congresswoman, Atty. Sheila McCormick, and NBA President Hon. Carlos Moore. Register today for this all-important discussion.