Gender Equality Committee
Mission:
This committee investigates issues of gender discrimination and equality in the legal profession and in the legal system. The committee may undertake projects as deemed necessary or appropriate to ensure fair treatment and equality of all members of the legal profession and all participants in the legal system. The focus for this committee includes follow-up to the findings of the latest NHBA Gender Equality Survey, including development of a proposed voluntary certification process of non-discriminatory, family-friendly employment policies for legal employers to be presented to the NHBA Board of Governors.
Successful Negotiations Workshop
The New Hampshire Bar Association Gender Equality Committee and New Lawyers Committee partnered with the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association to put on a Negotiations workshop. Law students and new lawyers had the opportunity to watch a new hire and lateral/partner level interview and then engage in discussions about how to address some issues that come up during interviews. In addition, the workshop included a panel discussion on the dos and don’ts of negotiating and interviewing, and the panelists also answered questions from the attendees. Thank you to the attorneys with Upton & Hatfield, Pastori Krans, Bernstein Shur, Manning & Zimmerman, Murphy Legal, and McLane Middleton for providing invaluable insight to the future of the New Hampshire Bar.
Gender Equality Committee Holds “Ask Me Anything” Event with UNH Law Students
On Tuesday, November 10, NHBA’s Gender Equality Committee partnered with the Women’s Student Law Association to host an “Ask Me Anything” panel discussion. In the world of COVID, the GEC wanted to give law students an opportunity to network and ask attorney’s truly anything. Law students took the opportunity to ask questions about what to take advantage of while in law school, whether a change in field is possible, and what steps to jumpstart and further their career as practitioner in New Hampshire. The panelists each provided such a unique perspective and invaluable advice.
Philip S. Hollman Award for Gender Equality
The Hollman Award recipient is someone who is dedicated to promoting respect and fair treatment toward all members of the judicial system. This person acts as a leader, educator, and role model on such issues. Emily Gray Rice is the City Solicitor for Manchester, where she leads an office of ten attorneys, providing legal counsel, and overseeing all legal matters involving the City, including its Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit.
A graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, Rice previously served as the first woman appointed by the President of the United States to serve as the US Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. She has enjoyed a long career as a trial lawyer and public servant, beginning with her tenure as a member of the New Hampshire Attorney General's office, where she served as chief of the bureau of civil law.
Rice has been extensively involved in New Hampshire's civic life, co-chairing the Governor's Judicial Selection Commission, founding and leading non-profit boards and fundraising efforts, including Red River Theatres and the Campaign for Legal Services, and advancing access to justice for all. She is intensely interested in helping our community shoulder the burdens imposed by substance misuse, violent crime, and unmet behavioral health needs.
She has been an adjunct faculty member at both the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, where she taught in the Daniel Webster Scholars Program from its inception, and in the UNH undergraduate program in Security Studies. She has been recognized by the New Hampshire Bar Association with the E. Donald Dufresne Award for Outstanding Professionalism, by the New Hampshire Women's Bar Association with the Marilla Ricker Achievement Award, and by the New Hampshire Bar Foundation as an Honorary Fellow.
View All Philip S. Hollman Award Winners
Gender Equality Surveys
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.
