Who We Are
ETLAW is a professional legal organization that fosters personal and professional development and works to advance women in the legal profession and in society as a whole. The organization was founded in 1983 by a group of pioneering women who sought to organize and connect female attorneys in the East Tennessee area. Today, there are ETLAW members spanning a wide variety of legal practice areas, including the judiciary. There are many benefits of being an ETLAW member, including professional development, continuing legal education, and networking.
In addition to its monthly CLE presentations on a variety of legal topics, ETLAW regularly hosts speakers ranging from politicians to judges to civic leaders to educate its members on current issues. ETLAW also takes an active voice in the legal community, and hosts a variety of programs, from book studies to judges’ panels, to give its members a forum to discuss ideas. ETLAW’s biggest event of the year is its annual Supreme Court Luncheon where the entire Tennessee Supreme Court and the judiciary from the East Tennessee area gather with ETLAW members and others in the legal community to network and celebrate Tennessee’s highest court. ETLAW also sponsors scholarships at the University of Tennessee College of Law, and actively provides judicial endorsements.
Finally, ETLAW also has a significant impact in the community, including its annual participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, annual toiletry drive for the YWCA, and strong collaborative partnerships with the University of Tennessee College of Law, the Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, and the YWCA.
News & Events

ETLAW IN 2019: A YEAR OF MILESTONES AND FIRSTS
This past 2019 year has been a remarkable year for ETLAW, beginning with our first CLE of the year, an ethics CLE, and culminating with our long-standing Annual Meeting and YWCA Holiday Toiletry Drive Luncheon. At the luncheon, we showed our holiday spirit by...
ETLAW in 2021: Staying Strong, Staying Involved
This past 2021 year has welcomed some return to normalcy while still arguably keeping us all on our toes. The pandemic may be lingering, but we have not been deterred from our mission of empowering women lawyers in the East Tennessee region. We hang tight and firm,...

ETLAW’S 2019 ANNUAL MEETING & SLATE OF OFFICERS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2019 The Annual Meeting of the East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women will occur Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. at the Foundry, 747 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37902. One of the purposes of the meeting will be the...
Become a Member
Membership in ETLAW is open to any person who supports the following purposes of the organization:
1. To promote the efficient administration of justice and the constant improvement of law, especially as such relates to women;
2. To encourage the participation of women in existing bar organizations, particularly at the committee and officer levels;
3. To promote career opportunities for women within the legal profession, and specifically, to act as a clearing house for employment openings and referrals; and
4. To educate the public on issues related to women’s participation in the judicial system, both as professionals and litigants.
If you have any questions about membership, please contact the Board at etlawpresident@gmail.com.
If you have any questions about membership, please contact the Board at etlawpresident@gmail.com.
What Our Members Say
ETLAW has been a great source of information, easy CLE, friendship, and a place to focus on the contributions of women to the profession.
– Wanda Sobieski
ETLAW strikes a great balance of fun and practical.
– Katie Jones
ETLAW gave me an opportunity to meet attorneys from other practice areas and generations while still allowing me to learn and use my time wisely with CLE lunches and networking. I probably wouldn’t have the job I have today if it wasn’t for my time on the ETLAW board and the relationships I formed during that time.
– Andi Anderson