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CBA ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN CELEBRATES WOMEN ADVANCINGWOMEN
Attitude and Gratitude
By Sarah King
Clifford Law Offices
I
n a true celebration of women advanc-
ing other women in the law, on May
22, the Chicago Bar Association Alli-
ance forWoman honored Stephanie Scharf
and Megan Mathias during their annual
luncheon at the Standard Club of Chicago.
Stephanie Scharf, this year’s Founder’s
Award recipient and named partner of
Scharf Banks Marmor, LLC, the larg-
est female majority owned law firm in
Chicago, addressed a large audience after
receiving her award. In addition to her
contributions to the Alliance, Scharf is a
former President of the National Associa-
tion of Women Lawyers. Scharf instituted
the NAWL Annual Survey of Women
in Law Firms, which revealed that there
continues to be a disproportionately low
number of women who advance into the
highest ranks of large firms despite an
increase in women law school graduates.
The same is true at the level of equity
partner. However, Scharf spoke of a sens-
ing a “sea of change” as large firms realize
they cannot afford to continue to lose
women to private practice. Scharf stated,
“the reality is if you lose women, you are
losing an enormous talent pool. Firms are
grappling with this systemic problem.”
Scharf suggested that in 10 years these
statistics would be very different. Addi-
tionally, Scharf shared a deeply personal
and touching story of her mother who was
orphaned at age 8. Scharf described how by
sheer grit and determination she worked
her way through high school and college,
ultimately landing a job as an executive
secretary at an ad agency. Scharf also
expressed her gratitude to the numerous
members of the Alliance who have shown
her incredible support and helped her over
the years, including the Honorable Sophia
H. Hall, who was in attendance.
Megan Mathias was this year’s recipient
of the Alta May Hulett Award. The award
is named for Illinois’ first woman lawyer
and is given to women who have recently
joined the profession, have significantly
contributed to the advancement of women
and have practiced at the highest level of
professional achievement. Mathias took the
stage to be honored for her contributions
to the profession including her work with
women and minority owned business.
She is the founder of Loop Mathias Law
Group and has been the lead attorney on
over 35 cases. Describing the mix of cour-
age and fear it takes to set out on her own,
Mathias thanked the legions of women she
has helped over the years that are helping
her now stating that, “It takes a village for
anyone to succeed.” Mathias also shared
a piece of special gratitude for her own
mother who was present at the luncheon
and credited her with teaching her the
perseverance to work quietly for causes that
are important to her.
The keynote speaker for the event was
Ana Dutra, President and CEO of the
Executives’ Club. Dutra’s charismatic
personality and seemingly endless supply
of confidence made her a perfect addition
to the luncheon. Dutra tied the AFW’s
theme together by describing how attitude
and gratitude connect; “[P]eople cannot
give what they don’t have,” stated Dutra.
“If I don’t have empathy or compassion, I
cannot give empathy or compassion; if I
don’t have self-awareness, how can we ask
others to be self-aware?” Dutra went on to
describe the power of insatiable curiosity
that led her to ask questions that changed
her life, including proposing to her own
husband. Dutra’s final message to all in
attendance was to encourage AFW mem-
bers to define themselves in their careers
by what they give back.
Annual luncheon participants with Past CBA President Daniel A. Cotter. Photo by Bill
Richert.
Watch upcoming issues of the
CBA Record
for more information
abou t A l l i an c e f o r Wome n
activities, special events, and
programming. And follow us on
social media! www.facebook.
c om/ c ba a l l i an c e f o r wome n ,
@cbaalliance on Twitter.
CBA RECORD
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