In 1976, a few women in the legal profession came together to network and discuss the legal status of women in general, and, in particular, in Louisiana. At that time, there were only about 300 women attorneys in Louisiana, and these founding members sought a way to network and communicate with each other.

The Association for Women Attorneys was born. Incorporated in 1985 as a non-profit corporation, the AWA has been a resource for information, networking and camaraderie in the metropolitan legal community of New Orleans and its environs.

Our membership consists of every sector of the legal community–public and private practitioners in civil and criminal law; judges; professors; corporate counsel; law clerks; and law students–who regularly gather and share common experiences and goals.

Generally, meetings are conducted during monthly luncheons at area restaurants and include a short address by a guest speaker, CLE seminars, or judicial forums. However, discussions are not limited to legal matters, and, as the pictures show, we have a lot of fun when we get together.

The Association for Women Attorneys is a non-profit professional association whose membership includes both women and men and represents every sector of the legal community, including private practitioners from firms of every size and specialty, professors, judges, law clerks, corporate counsel, prosecutors, government lawyers and law students.

Through monthly membership luncheons, CLE seminars, information on our Website, and emails to members, as well as membership in the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations, the goals of the AWA are threefold: (1) to foster the exchange of information among our members; (2) to encourage and facilitate the participation of women in economic and social decision-making in the community; and, (3) to advance the interests and improve the status of women in the legal profession and the status of women in our society.