The Women in Law Section (WILS), formerly known as the Committee on Women in the Law, is a left-of-center legal association which works in an advisory and policy advocacy role for litigators, especially those dealing with issues of gender equality and women’s issues. WILS is a subgroup of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). ¹

In addition to dealing with concerns related to female litigators, WILS discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, hosts webinars, and advocates for litigation which advances it causes. ^{2 3}

Background

The Women in Law Section was founded as the Committee on Women in the Law in 1986. Its first chairwoman was Manhattan tax attorney Ruth G. Schapiro, who had been appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the Tax Court Nominating Commission in 1978. ⁴

It is responsible for proposing legislation to, and implementing policies of, the New York State Bar Association’s Executive Committee and House of Delegates. In 2014, it prepared a report detailing ways to increase female engagement in the NYSBA. According to its 2017 handbook, it is also responsible for addressing “gender bias” and other women’s issues in the law. Members are required to attend at least one of its events, to join one subcommittee, and to attend a monthly meeting; failure to meet these three conditions may result in the termination of membership, although some leeway may be allowed due to work-related commitments. ⁵

In addition to being supported by the NYSBA, it partners with the New York County Lawyers’ Association (NYCLA) and is supported by the Women’s Initiative of the law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel. ^{6 7}

Advocacy

In March 2016 the Women in Law Section wrote a letter calling for the U.S. to ratify the protocols of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This set of principles, consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, had already been ratified (with some reservations) by 187 out 193 members of the United Nations and was meant to represent a commitment to “incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women.” It mandated the establishment of tribunals to deal with issues in this area, and signatory countries were required to submit a report every four years tracking the steps being taken in this area, and what progress had been made towards its goals. ⁸

Although CEDAW had enjoyed the support of former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, as well as numerous left-of-center groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Service Industries Employee Union (SEIU), its protocols have never been ratified in the United States. ⁹

Projects

In 2016, the Women in Law Section established a journal dedicated to women’s legal issues, which is now called WILSConnect. WILS also hosts webinars on its website and a YouTube channel discussing topics ranging from time management and work/life balance to legal implications of abortion-inducing medication in a post-Dobbs v. Jackson world to financial empowerment for women in law. One program, “Getting to Ellen,” discussed the gender transition of attorney Ellie Krug. ¹⁰

In addition to its work on women’s issues, WILS also hosts discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues. On January 24, 2024, it co-hosted a webinar with the New York State Bar Association’s LGBTQ Section which was dedicated to DEI, gay marriage, and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues in Japan. ¹¹

Awards

WILS annually awards the Ruth G. Schapiro Prize to a litigator of either sex who has distinguished him or herself in support of its mission or women’s issues litigation. It also awards a similar prize, the Kay Crawford Murray prize, for women “who recognize the value of diversity in the legal profession and have dedicated their time to advancing the professional development of women attorneys.” ¹²

Leadership

Kimberly Wolf Price is the chair of the Women in Law Section, and the chief strategy and diversity officer of the law firm Bond Schoeneck & King. She is the former director of externship programs at Syracuse University College of Law and former chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Lawyers in Transition. ¹³

The late Ruth G. Schapiro was a prominent Manhattan tax attorney who worked as the first chairwoman of WILS (then known as the Committee on Women in the Law). In addition to being appointed in 1978 by then-President Jimmy Carter to the Tax Court Nominating Commission, Schapiro was an editor for the Columbia Law Review, chairwoman of the New York City State Bar Association’s tax section, and sat on its committee on personal income taxes. ¹⁴

1.  “About the Women in Law Section.” NYSBA. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://archive.nysba.org/Sections/Women_in_Law/About_the_Section/About_the_Women_in_Law_Section.html.
2. “Committee on Women in the Law Member Manual.” NYSBA. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://nysba.org/NYSBA/Sections/Women%20in%20Law/About%20the%20Section/CWIL%20Member%20Manual%202017-2018%20.pdf.
3. “ESG, DEI, Marriage Equality, and Human Rights in Japan.” NYSBA. January 24, 2024. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://nysba.org/events/esg-dei-marriage-equality-and-human-rights-in-japan/.
4.  Obituary. “Ruth G. Schapiro, 64, Leading Tax Lawyer.” August 28, 1991. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/28/obituaries/ruth-g-schapiro-64-leading-tax-lawyer.html
5. “Committee on Women in the Law Member Manual.” NYSBA. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://nysba.org/NYSBA/Sections/Women%20in%20Law/About%20the%20Section/CWIL%20Member%20Manual%202017-2018%20.pdf.
6. “What is CEDAW.” NYCLA. March 25, 2016. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.nycla.org/resource/committee-report/nycla-publications1792/
7. Women’s Initiative.” Kramer Levin. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.kramerlevin.com/en/about-us/diversity/womens-initiative-committee.html.
8. “What is CEDAW.” NYCLA. March 25, 2016. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.nycla.org/resource/committee-report/nycla-publications1792/.
9. “What is CEDAW.” NYCLA. March 25, 2016. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.nycla.org/resource/committee-report/nycla-publications1792/.
10. NYSBA. “Getting to Ellen…” Youtube. May 22, 2023. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MKWfs-a3Fo.
11. “ESG, DEI, Marriage Equality, and Human Rights in Japan.” NYSBA. January 24, 2024. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://nysba.org/events/esg-dei-marriage-equality-and-human-rights-in-japan/.
12. “Women in Law Section/Awards.” NYSBA. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://nysba.org/committees/women-in-law-section/.
13. “Kimberly Wolf Price.” LInkedin. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-wolf-price/.
14. Obituary. “Ruth G. Schapiro, 64, Leading Tax Lawyer.” August 28, 1991. Accessed February 5, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/28/obituaries/ruth-g-schapiro-64-leading-tax-lawyer.html.