Oregon Women Lawyers
Queen's Bench - PortlandWelcome to Queen’s Bench, the Portland chapter of Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS). We are an independent non-profit corporation whose mission is to promote the professional advancement, camaraderie, and good fellowship among women in the legal profession and the community. Anyone interested in this goal may become a member. Queen’s Bench provides a supportive environment for attorneys, law students and those who work in the legal field to meet, network and make friends. Monthly MeetingsQueen’s Bench meets every second Tuesday of the month at 11:45 am until 1:00 pm at Trees Restaurant, 1211 SW 5th Ave. in downtown Portland. Each month we have a speaker or offer a program, and there is time to visit before and after the formal program. Lunch is $14.00 for a full meal, which includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, beverage, and tip. Reservations are not taken. If you would prefer not to have lunch, you are welcome to come and join us at no charge. Usually, we introduce ourselves at the luncheons. Anyone can make announcements, and we encourage mention of job openings and volunteer opportunities. Bring your business cards. Note that our December Luncheon will be our annual Holiday Luncheon Honoring Women Judges and will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Portland. CourtCareAs part of our outreach to the community and in coordination with Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation, Queen's Bench has adopted CourtCare, a free, drop-in child care facility for the children of litigants and witnesses in the Multnomah County Courthouse. At our monthly luncheons, we suggest that donations be made for the benefit of CourtCare, by making earmarked donations through the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation. Manche Langley Scholarship FundOne of the most-beloved members of Queen's Bench was Manche Langley, who died in 1963 while still practicing law at age 79. Queen's Bench started collecting the seed money in 1963 for what is now the Manche Langley Scholarship Fund, intended to benefit women law students who embody Manche Langley's professionalism and integrity. Anyone may contribute to this fund by sending a check to the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College and designating it as a contribution to the Manche Langley Scholarship Fund. History of Queen's Bench“Queen's Bench of Oregon” was founded in early 1948 by approximately 25 women lawyers who wrote a constitution, collected dues and met monthly. Queen's Bench has been meeting monthly ever since! Since 1972, Queen's Bench has met on the second Tuesday of every month. Queen's Bench has often held additional meetings, including cocktail-hour mixers with other groups of professional women and brown bag lunches. Although Queen's Bench is now a chapter of Oregon Women Lawyers, Queen's Bench predates the formation of OWLS. The group had members throughout the state and sponsored a breakfast at the annual state bar convention most years. In the late 1970's, Queen's Bench began hosting these breakfasts with Lane County Women Lawyers and the Mary Leonard Law Society. It was during one of these breakfasts, in 1988, that visionary members pledged support for a state-wide organization to benefit women lawyers. OWLS was incorporated on March 30, 1989. Queen's Bench, organized as a non-profit corporation with articles filed on January 12, 1988, became OWLS’ first chapter by vote of the Board on January 10, 1990. For more information about our history, call Trudy Allen, OWLS Foundation Historian at 503.797.0219. Queen’s Bench MembershipIf you are a member of Oregon Women Lawyers, you will receive news of Queen's Bench programs in the AdvanceSheet. If you select Queen's Bench as your local chapter when you join OWLS, you will also receive notification of upcoming events by postcard. Queen's Bench is proud of its lasting tradition of providing a supportive forum for networking, welcoming women into the law, and enhancing the participation of women in the legal profession. Join us any time! For more information about Queen's Bench, contact Queen's Bench President Kristin Sterling. Queen's Bench Board of Directors 2010 Kristin Sterling, President Mary Dougherty |
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