It is with great sadness that we report the death on September 6 of Leslie M. Altman, a guiding force behind Perspectives and a past member of the Commission on Women in the Profession. A shareholder at Littler Mendelson PC in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she specialized in workers’ compensation and employment law, Leslie was a remarkable lawyer who championed the advancement of women lawyers and service to the bar in everything she did.
“She was deeply committed to advancing women,” says Mary B. Cranston, chair of the Commission on Women, “and personally was a natural mentor and great listener, just a warm human being.” Roberta D. Liebenberg, immediate past Commission chair, adds, “Leslie worked tirelessly on many of the Commission’s important projects, and in particular she was a powerful voice for women attorneys of color, who confront the ‘double bind’ of both gender and race.”
Leslie served as chair of the Perspectives editorial board (Fall 2001–Fall 2006) and was an appointed Commission member (2007–2010) who returned as a Perspectives editorial board member (Fall 2008–Fall 2011). She was committed to publishing a magazine that is both engaging and edgy in content while strongly advocating for women lawyers, providing concrete and useful solutions and strategies to overcome the barriers that women still confront. Leslie helped set and maintain that tone, always professionally guarding the “voice” of Perspectives and the independence of its editorial board.
As a trailblazer, role model, and champion of women’s rights, Leslie Altman will be sorely missed.