2025 D.C. Bar Candidate Endorsements
The leadership of the D.C. Bar sets the priorities for the largest unified bar association in the country. The D.C. Bar President, Treasurer, and Board of Governors review and approve D.C. Bar policies, approve the annual budget for the Bar and the Bar Pro Bono Center, decide which committee and task force recommendations to pursue, set governance for the Bar, and much more. Washington Council of Lawyers believes effective Bar leadership will have experience in service to the legal community, have leadership experience with the D.C. Bar, D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, or voluntary bars and be able to provide strategic guidance to contribute to the Bar’s future.
Washington Council of Lawyers Stands Against Attacks on the Rule of Law
As the pro bono and public-interest bar association of Washington, DC, the Washington Council of Lawyers’ core tenet is that the legal system should treat everyone fairly regardless of money, position, or power. We continue to fight against the challenges to this core principle from the administration, elected officials, and other actors.
PIVOT: Transitioning Your Career to a New Sector Resources
Transitioning out of the federal government means leaving your job with a federal agency, which typically involves assessing your transferable skills, updating your resume to highlight those skills, actively networking within your desired industry, and utilizing career transition programs like the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) to find new employment, either within another government agency or in the private sector. Here are some general tips you should consider during your transition:
Rising to the Challenge, Embracing Compassion and Community
14 February 2025 Blog, Featured
Challenging times bring opportunities – to support our community and fight for what we know is right. Now more than ever, we are equipped and ready to empower advocates and inspire change!
2024 Justice Impact Awards Presidents Award: The Honorable Anna Blackburne-Rigsby
20 November 2024 Blog, Featured
Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby joined the DC Court of Appeals in 2006 and has served as chief judge since 2017. Prior to her tenure at the DC Court of Appeals, Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby served on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for more than ten years as an associate judge and magistrate judge. During her distinguished career, Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby has been honored for her legal, judicial, and community service. Moreover, she has led the Courts’ access to justice and racial equity work, steadfastly supported pro bono volunteers, and spearheaded innovative improvements to court operations. Further, Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby has been instrumental in the creation of the Court’s Access to Justice Unit. As the public-interest bar association of the District of Columbia, we are delighted to highlight this aspect of her work with the 2024 Justice Impact Awards Presidents Award.
2024 Justice Impact Awards Legacy Award: Nancy Lopez
11 November 2024 Blog, Featured
Brilliant, dedicated, collaborator, mentor, leader. These are the words most used to describe Nancy Lopez, retired Executive Director of Washington Council of Lawyers. In her tenure, Nancy formed and shaped Washington Council of Lawyers into what we are today. Her insight, wisdom, experience, flexibility, and skill are just some of the reasons we are thrilled to recognize her with our Justice Impact Awards Legacy Award. Rarely given (it’s only been awarded twice before), it is reserved for those individuals who don’t just go above and beyond, but make a substantial and exemplar impact on access to justice in DC and pro bono and public interest in our community. Nancy was a stalwart leader of Washington Council of Lawyers with a passion for our mission and an unwavering commitment to access to justice work. We were fortunate to have her hand at the helm through unprecedented growth and once-in-a-lifetime challenges. She continues to support our work as a volunteer, and her vision lives on in the work we do every day. Join us in celebrating Nancy Lopez as our Legacy Award recipient.
2024 Justice Impact Awards Government: Christine Ennis
05 November 2024 Blog, Featured
Christine Ennis is a trial attorney in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) who has demonstrated a laudable commitment to performing and empowering others to engage in pro bono service. From the major efforts and achievements to the smaller tasks that ensure she and her colleagues can continue to provide innovative pro bono service to her neighbors, Christine has made a tremendous positive impact on her community. For these and many more reasons, we’re excited to celebrate Christine Ennis as the 2024 Justice Impact Award Government recipient.
2024 Justice Impact Awards Legal Services: Amy Nelson
05 November 2024 Blog, Featured
Amy Nelson, Director of Legal Services for Whitman-Walker Health, has spent her career working for justice and improving the lives of low-income people and those impacted by structural barriers. Amy deeply cares about people – her clients, her team, all relationships. She leads with humanity and enthusiasm. She centers everyone’s unique needs and feelings as she works to lead, support her team, reduce structural barriers, and improve access by truly seeing the person. Colleagues use words like kind, brilliant, and persistent. Amy is a deeply respected leader in our community who always seeks ways to increase access to justice for marginalized individuals. She is a mentor, supporter, collaborator and innovator. Most importantly she is tireless in pursuing justice for her clients and building networks to multiply her impact. For these reasons and more, we are pleased to honor Amy Nelson with the 2024 Justice Impact Awards Legal Services award.
2024 Justice Impact Awards Corporate Legal Department: Kathi Westcott
05 November 2024 Blog, Featured
Kathi has worked tirelessly to expand opportunities in the legal profession to all, through her active leadership of the Chapter’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and many other initiatives. Kathi is a visionary leader who has shown a remarkable commitment to justice in our legal community. She is a force multiplier, not only providing legal services directly to clients, but encouraging and inspiring others to do so as well. We are thrilled to recognize Kathi Westcott with our 2024 Justice Impact Awards Corporate Legal Department award.