Angela E. Kennedy
It is my sincere pleasure to serve as the 49th President of the Alabama Lawyer’s Association (“ALA”). I do not take for granted the tremendous efforts of those who came before me and paved the way. I am truly a benefactor of their selfless sacrifice. ALA has been good to me, and ALA has been good for me. I am grateful!
This association was founded in 1971 and recently celebrated 50 years of service to the state of Alabama. ALA has been a steady presence in the lives of its members and their communities. A champion for civil rights and a resource for attorney’s and students within the legal profession. The associations very existence has been a meaningful beacon of light during some very dark times.
Our challenge now, is the road ahead. For this year, we are focused on “Fulfilling Our Legacy: Recommitted to Our Purpose.” In the current climate, we must examine why the important work of this organization was started. We must assess where we are in the midst and focus on our direction. Our actions must be intentional and purposefully aimed at creating better circumstances for the citizens of our state. As an association, we remain protective of the civil and political rights of all citizens. We remain supportive of providing legal support to the indigent and enhancing the effectiveness of our members as legal counsel. We are committed to aspiring law students in their quest to practice law and we are committed to providing educational and networking opportunities. Our initiatives, some of which are listed below, demonstrate our dedication toward these goals.
- ALA’s Annual Law Student Program, Minority Prelaw Conferences, Law Day Program and Robert A. Jones Law Student Reception, which provide an informal setting for law students to meet practicing lawyers, Bar staff and examiners, as well as judges from federal, state and municipal courts, to discuss issues facing law students.
- ALA’s Law Student Summer Clerkship and Mentorship Program, which provides stipends to qualified law students as partial funding for summer clerkships with various legal entities throughout the state of Alabama. Further, the Law Student Clerkship and Mentorship Program teaches law students and aspiring young lawyers what to expect as a law clerk or new associate, as well as how to interview, create a resume and how to become a professional attorney.
- Quarterly Meetings and Programming, to assist in the educational advancement of legal professionals through the information shared at conferences and free continuing legal education seminars for members.
- Legal Professional Network Directory, to provide information about specialties and practice areas. The network is set up to facilitate job referrals, exchange lists of consultants and share other resources.
In closing, I invite you to join our association or to renew your membership. We have executive members, district representatives and committee chairs from all federal districts in Alabama within our board. There is an abundance of talent which allows for collaborative efforts and a consistent stream of resources. Our Annual Meeting, which will be held May 25, 26, and 27, 2023, in Costa Rica promises to be an exciting climax to what I predict to be a very productive year for ALA. I appreciate your membership and support of this association. We can accomplish so much together because there is ALWAYS WORK TO BE DONE.
