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    Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards

    Each year, the Commission on Women in the Profession honors up to five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession.  The award recipients are honored at the ABA Annual Meeting.

    Congratulations to the 2025 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards Honorees

    Capture the inspiration and fellowship of these five esteemed women lawyers as they share their stories on Sunday, August 10, 2025, 3:00 - 5:30 pm ET at the Fairmont Royal York Toronto .

    Margaret Brent Awards Ceremony & Reception

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    Meet the - 2025 Honorees

    35th Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards

    Please join us in supporting this extraordinary group of women. All proceeds will support the projects of the Commission on Women in the Profession so it can continue to produce educational materials that benefit women lawyers and the profession. Your support helps develop goodwill and demonstrates your strong commitment to women and diversity. Sponsorship opportunities are available until June 30, 2025.

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    35th Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards

    Join us on Sunday, August 10, 3-5:30 p.m. ET at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, in conjunction with the ABA Annual Meeting, to honor five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence and paved the way for other women in the legal profession.

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    35th Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Awards Sponsors

    Thank You to our Generous Supporters!

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    Margaret Brent Award Nomination Information

    Margaret Brent was the first woman lawyer in America, arriving in the colonies in 1638. The Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, established by the Commission in 1991, recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women lawyers who have excelled in their field and have paved the way to success for other women lawyers.

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    Previous Brent Honorees

    Honorees receiving the Margaret Brent Award have achieved professional excellence in their field and influenced other woman to pursue legal careers, opened doors for women lawyers in a variety of job settings that historically were closed to them, and/or advanced opportunities for women within a practice area or segment of the profession.

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    Who Was Margaret Brent?

    Margaret Brent was the first woman lawyer in America. She arrived in the colonies in 1638. She was a master negotiator, an accomplished litigator, and a respected leader. She was involved in 124 court cases over eight years and won every case. In 1648 she formally demanded a “vote and voice” in the Maryland Assembly, which the governor denied. Over 250 years later, Harper’s magazine noted: “By this action, Margaret Brent undoubtedly placed herself as the first woman in America to make a stand for the rights of her sex.”