The Mississippi Bar
The Mississippi Bar Women in the Profession Section is proud to host the 30th Annual Evelyn Gandy Lecture Series on January 27 – 28, 2023 in Meridian. This premier CLE for women lawyers was named for the late Lt. Gov. Evelyn Gandy, whose passion for public service survives through this Lecture Series. Agenda. Register by downloading the registration form here. (Online registration is now closed.)
HOTEL UPDATE: The room block at the Threefoot Hotel is sold out. The hotel is completely booked for the night of Friday, January 27th.
Agenda:
Thursday, January 26, 2023
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Networking Social (Threefoot Brewing Company)
Friday, January 27, 2023
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Registration and Lunch (Grand Lobby)
1:00 – 1:15 pm Welcome (Historic Theater)
1:15 – 2:15 pm Let’s Get Updated (Historic Theater)
Updates from our Bench & Bar. Join us for updates from a representative of the following: our Mississippi Bar, our Mississippi trial courts, our Mississippi appellate courts, and our Mississippi district courts. The hour will conclude with a recap of new and proposed legislation effecting women and children in our state. This presentation will include the following:
2:15 – 2:30 pm Break
2:30 – 3:30 pm Breakout Sessions:
She Ran:
A panel of elected judges discussing their recent campaign process, from start to finish. The legacy of Evelyn Gandy promotes public service. This panel includes the following:
Let's Get on Board:
A conversation about the tools we need to succeed when serving on a board. Lawyers play a vital role in connecting our communities. Many lawyers accept positions on nonprofit boards to support causes they believe in or to further their personal, professional, and philanthropic goals, but are not prepared for the conflicts and other professional issues that may confront them during their board service. Join us for this conversation about paths to the boardroom, board expectations, and board responsibilities. This panel includes the following:
The Cannabis Codes
A discussion about Mississippi’s new medical marijuana laws with women lawyers on the forefront of this new industry. This hour will include an overview of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act and regulations adopted by the Department of Health and Department of Revenue that govern the cannabis businesses.
3:30 – 3:45 pm Break
3:45 – 4:45 pm Breakout Sessions:
The Defenders: A viewing of the documentary “The Defenders: How Lawyers Protected the Movement”
During the civil rights movement, three of the only four Black lawyers in Mississippi were joined by attorneys from around the country to work on civil rights cases to protect the constitutional freedoms and guarantees of equality and justice that form the foundation of this country. Lawyers from The NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) were dispatched to work on cases where Black people were unfairly jailed or killed. Constance Baker Motley, who in 1966 became the nation’s first African American woman to serve as a federal judge, was one of those lawyers. Another lawyer featured is lawyer Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund. Edelman was the first African American woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1964, then began practicing law with the NAACP Legal Fund’s Mississippi office. Following the film join us for a discussion about the lasting impact of the lawyers featured in the film.
She Litigates: Female Litigators in a Male-Dominated Industry
Women lawyers continue to be overwhelmingly underrepresented in the courtroom - especially in the civil and complex litigation space but the female litigators on this panel are some of the best in our state. These women are the definition of experienced litigators and in this session will dive into their experiences and their suggestions for female lawyers litigating in a male-dominated industry.
Using Interpreters: The use of language interpreters in law practice
This presentation will discuss the considerations you should make when language barriers arise in your practice. The Mississippi Court Interpreter Credentialing Program has been developed by the Administrative Office of Courts in order to assist Mississippi courts in their endeavor to provide equal access to justice for limited English proficiency individuals.
5:00 pm Happy Hour Networking (The Boxcar)
6:00 pm Dinner and Silent Auction
Saturday, January 28, 2022
8:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 am CLE Session
Embracing a Changing Society: From DNA & Drug Tests to Digital Footprints & Podcasts
This hour will address how advances in science and technology and the accessibility to these advances are impacting the practice of law in all types of cases. Panelists will discuss our "duty to Google", using digital evidence in court, the varying types of drug tests and DNA tests, and the inevitable correlation between legal podcasts and professionalism. This panel will include:
9:30 – 9:45 am Break
9:45 – 10:45 am The West Hour
A Stressful Profession: Purposeful Approaches for a Healthier Practice (Ethics Hour)
This panel will discuss the stress and vicarious trauma often present in our profession and the ways we can purposefully respond. The discussion will include the work of the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program and how LJAP can help, Ole Miss law school’s new initiatives including the Student Wellness Program and Well-Being Pledge for Employers, and we will be given some tools and techniques to promote nervous system resilience by incorporating techniques such as breathing practices, grounding exercises, mindfulness training and yoga principles.
10:45 – 11:00 am Break
11:00 am – 12:00 pm The Gandy Hour
The Life and Career of Evelyn Gandy
"Evelyn Gandy shattered glass ceilings and blazed a mighty trail for the women in the State of Mississippi to excel in law and politics," said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. "She was a strong advocate for all of Mississippi's people, regardless of color or ethnicity." Edythe Evelyn Gandy was born in 1920, only days after the 19th Amendment was ratified and granted women the right to vote in the United States. Gandy would become the first woman to hold constitutional statewide office in Mississippi when she was elected state treasurer in 1959. She went on to win elections for insurance commissioner in 1972 and lieutenant governor in 1975. We will revisit the legacy of Lt. Governor Gandy and view some of the special historical pieces from her personal collection.
12:00 – 12:15 pm Closing Remarks
12:15 pm Lunch on your own and optional activities
Check out the video below to see all our host city has to offer.