Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys

D1 and D6 representatives Susan Hess and Caitlin Slessor have held two combined events in the past few months. We love our reps bringing IOWA members and other women attorneys together!

Our president is working on a Playlist for the September 19-21, 2025 retreat. Help her out by leaving a comment with your favorite song that speaks to the heart of being a female attorney, that you lean on when the job is too hard, or otherwise resonates for you in this uniquely challenging career.

Don't Worry. Taylor Swift's "The Man" and "I can do it with a broken heart" are already on the list since they've been used in our CLE's in the past.

After you leave a comment, head to the website to check out our upcoming events!

Hey there D1 and D6 (and surrounding districts!) Our reps for D1 and D6, Susan Hess and Caitlin Slessor, have set up a social event for February 6, 2025 at the Goldfinch Tap + Eatery, 740 10th St., Marion, IA 52302. The event will be from 5 pm to 7 pm, and IOWA will provide light appetizers and a drink for each attendee. Event is open to members as well as non-members who are interested in finding out more about IOWA and possibly joining the organization. No RSVP is required, but we hope you'll turn up to see Caitlin and Susan and make the event a fun success.

Questions? Contact Susan ([email protected]) or Caitlin ([email protected]).

IOWA has four upcoming events open for registration! These events are member only. Information can be found on our website at: https://www.iowawomenattorneys.org/news.php

February 26, 2025: Noon CLE via Zoom - Day in the Life of a Judge, Specialty Courts.

March 6, 2025: Sipping Sisters - both am and pm sessions available.

May 13, 2025: Sipping Sisters - both am and pm sessions available.

September 19-21: IOWA Retreat at the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa.

Events - Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys Events sponsored or promoted by the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys, which promotes the welfare and interests of women lawyers and women affected by the legal system, and provides a network of communication and support for members.

Check out the ABA's 2024 profile on women and the law:

Women in the Legal Profession When the history of the legal profession is written, 2016 to 2026 may become known as the Decade of the Female Lawyer – a time when the profession started to noticeably shift from a male majority to a female majority.

We have two upcoming events with open registration - Trauma, Resilience, and Working on Hard Things at noon on 12/12/24, and Sipping Sisters in January. More information is available on the event page of our website. Registration is through our website.

Events - Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys Events sponsored or promoted by the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys, which promotes the welfare and interests of women lawyers and women affected by the legal system, and provides a network of communication and support for members.

Congratulations to our board member, Eva Morales, for writing an excellent article on "Our Time: Redefining success as an attorney and mother." The article was published in the Iowa State Bar Association's "Iowa Lawyer" this month, November 2024. We're thrilled to have Eva serving on the board and sharing her experiences!

Sharing an event from our sister organization, PCWA:

Please join us October 24, 2024 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM for a free yoga class led by Power Life Yoga (West Glenn Location) in their grass space. The yoga class will be followed by a 30-minute CLE discussion with Ashley Madsen on strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome in the legal profession.
The event is free. Registration not required but appreciated. Both members and non-members are welcome. Attendees will need to bring their own yoga mat.
*CLE is pending.
Register Here:

Polk County Women Attorneys - PCWA Yoga CLE Please join us for a free yoga class led by Power Life Yoga in their grass space. The yoga class will be followed by a 30-minute CLE discussion with Ashley Madsen on strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome in the legal profession.

These tips aren't just for new attorneys!

At the Celebration of ISBA's 150th year in June, long-time I.O.W.A. member, Hon. Elisabeth S. Reynoldson, was honored with the highest honor the Iowa State Bar Association can convey upon an individual, the Award of Merit. Read the article in August 2024 issue of The Iowa Lawyer Magazine:

The Iowa Lawyer Magazine On June 25, The Iowa State Bar Association conveyed the highest honor the association can bestow on an individual, its Award of Merit, to Hon. Elisabeth S. Reynoldson. Created in 1947, an esteemed few are bestowed this coveted award. Those who attain it do so because they have devoted themselves to....

If you missed ISBA's 150th Celebration in June, you may have missed seeing this amazing presentation created collaboratively by Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys and Iowa State Bar Association: Celebrating Trailblazing Women in the Law.

We hope you enjoy a look back at Iowa Women in the Law, which began with the first woman attorney admitted to any state bar, Iowa's own Arabella Mansfield.

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The July 2024 episode of In The Balance podcast hosts long-time I.O.W.A. member, Dr. Roxann Ryan, for a discussion on Women Pioneers in the Iowa Judicial Branch. Dr. Ryan began practicing law in the Iowa Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division in 1980 and has been involved with numerous state agencies and legal associations. She is also an adjunct instructor at Drake Law School, Simpson College, and University of Northern Iowa.

Host: Abhash Shrestha
Guest: Dr. Roxann Ryan

Episode 46. Women Pioneers in the Iowa Judicial Branch This month, In The Balance Podcast hosts Dr. Roxann Ryan. Dr. Ryan began practicing law in the Iowa Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division in 1980 and has been involved with numerous state agencies and legal associations.  She is also an adjunct instructor at Drake Law School, Simpson Col...