Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

Two Lesbians Leading San Francisco Bay Area Professional Law Organizations For 2012

In what is believed to be a first, as reported in the Bay Area Reporter, two San Francisco Bay Area professional law associations have lesbian presidents, including Lieff Cabraser partner Kelly M. Dermody, at the helm this year.

Last month, Ms. Dermody was installed as the 99th President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. Dermody is the fourth gay or lesbian attorney to hold the position; the first was in 1999 when attorney Therese Stewart, now San Francisco's chief deputy city attorney, served as president. Earlier this month, Sally Elkington began serving as the President the Alameda County Bar Association. Ms. Elkington is the first self-identified lesbian or gay lawyer to lead the board of the East Bay legal group.

"I guess when I think about it, I just think it makes gay and lesbian leadership in bar associations a non-issue the more you have out leaders. And having two at once is just a wonderful example of how far we've come in our legal communities," said Chris Burdick, who for 22 years has been the Santa Clara County Bar Association's executive director and general counsel.

In many parts of the country, and even other parts of California, LGBT lawyers are not comfortable with being out of the closet, Elkington and Dermody told the Bay Area Reporter. Both hope to use the spotlight that comes with being a bar association president to break down stereotypes and inspire others.

"Having a number of LGBT bar leaders in the same area at the same time provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate to those parts of the country and those parts of the state that we as LGBT professionals are capable -- and as capable -- of leading as anyone else in this diverse collection of lawyers and professionals in our community," said Dermody, who thanked her partner, Billie Mizell , in her installation speech. "You get startled if you have lived in the Bay Area as an LGBT professional at how hard it is for people not in the Bay Area to make a living. When you have a chance to have this platform, which we don't have every day, it is sure nice to use it for the sake of the community and the benefit of everyone."

In addition to advocating for more funding for the state court system, Dermody has made diversity one of her three top agenda items as president - the third being community service. In her speech she spoke of the need of law firms to hire more people of color and LGBTs. "Our profession wields enormous influence in this society. But this influence is illegitimate if it is not inclusive of and does not empower the rich diversity of our community," Ms. Dermody stated.

Read the full Bay Area Reporter article. To learn more about the Bar Association of San Francisco, visit www.sfbar.org.