Ms. Soltis is a Utah Assistant Attorney General who has made a career of training and helping prosecutors.  Her qualifications for this award are numerous.

Ms. Soltis graduated from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1975, where she served as president of the Association of Women Lawyers.  At that time, she was one of approximately twelve women in her class.  She began her practice as a trial attorney for the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association, where she worked from 1975-78.  The Association has employed hundreds of women since its inception.  Ms. Soltis was the second. 
 
She served from 1978-1981 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.  She was the first woman prosecutor for the office.  After that, she was in private practice from 1982-89.  During this period she also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah College of Law, teaching trial advocacy.
 
In 1989, Ms. Soltis joined the Utah Attorney General’s Office and has worked as an Assistant Utah Attorney General from 1989 to the present.  During this period, she served as Director, Statewide Assistance to Narcotics Enforcement (1990), Section Chief, Criminal Appeals Division (1990-93), and Division Chief, Criminal Appeals Division (1993-99). 
 
In her position as Division Chief, Ms. Soltis supervised and reviewed the work of all division attorneys addressing appeals of serious violent crimes in the state, such as murder, kidnapping, arson, rape, and drug crimes, as well as white collar crimes, including securities and communications fraud.  In addition to supervising others during this period, she has always carried a personal caseload, appearing herself before the courts in these matters. 
 
She resigned as Division Chief in 1999 when health concerns prompted her to reduce her workload.  She continues, however, to prosecute criminal appeals for the State.  Due to her expertise, she represents the State in a large percentage of the most difficult and complex appeals. 
 
Ms. Soltis has also been involved in numerous professional associations and activities.  Among others, she served as president of the Utah Chapter of the Federal Bar from 1988-89.  She was the second woman president of the Chapter and, at the time of her service, the first woman to serve in over a decade.  She served in other capacities in the Chapter, including secretary, president-elect, and executive advisory board member.  She also served as a commissioner for the Utah Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women from 1981-85.  In 1982, she served on the Governor’s Task Force on Sex Discrimination, Utah Chapter, Fifty States Women’s Project.  Since 2005, Ms. Soltis has served on the Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Evidence. 
 
Ms. Soltis has also made numerous presentations to judges and prosecutors throughout the state and was also given the award for the Appellate Attorney of the Year in 1998-1999.

The Attorney General’s office issued a press release quoting Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff: “‘It is a great honor to have one of our dedicated attorneys receive this prestigious award . . .  Chris Soltis has shown time and again throughout her selfless career that protecting the people of Utah is her number one priority.  I join with the people of Utah in saying congratulations and thank you for your devoted service.’”

Congratulations to Ms. Soltis on her great achievements!

 Please mark your calendars for the annual Women Lawyers of Utah Retreat, which will be held on 

November 5th and 6th, 2010 

at the St. Regis Resort in Deer Valley. 

Details to follow.  

Thursday-Friday, April 29th-30th - Philadelphia, PA

WLU was recently informed of this great opportunity.  This information was obtained from the ABA website:

The ABA Commission on Women and Young Lawyers Division present the fourth Women in Law Leadership Academy on April 29-30, 2010. Realize your leadership potential — learn how to develop business — take your career to the next level. The WILL Academy empowers and trains women lawyers to achieve success and leadership skills. You will receive practical advice from and have the opportunity to network with prominent judges, general counsels, and practitioners from around the country. You will participate in a number of interactive and highly informative programs that address a wide range of important and cutting-edge subjects.

For more information, please visit http://www.abanet.org/women/will.html

Sponsored by:

Cannon & Match, P.C.   &   Women Lawyers of Utah

 Cannon & Match , P.C. & Women Lawyers of Utah would like to invite you to get into the true holiday spirit by giving to those in need. The Salt Lake City Road Home provides help for people in our community as part of their Annual Christmas Project. The Road Home will be assembling 600 Holiday gift bags for individuals they work with every day.  Please start gathering donations and/or money to help in this effort.

To make a monetary donation with your credit card, please click on the link below.

The drop-off location will be from December 1 through the 14^th at:

 Cannon & Match, P.C. 633 East South Temple SLC, UT 84102

*The Road Home requests that all hygiene items be FULL size.

*Clothing is needed in ALL sizes.

*Clean used items are accepted.

*Please see www.theroadhome.org for a full list of items needed

 To coordinate pickup/drop off, please contact either of the following:

  Krista Beardsley: (801) 548-7708 krista@cannonmatch.com

Adrian Johnson: (801) 554-0517 adrian@cannonmatch.com

The registration is now closed.

You may download and print a complete packet with Introduction & CLE Materials.  You may choose to download materials for each session separately by clicking on the following links:

General Information About the Retreat

CLE Materials Session I (Friday 11-06-2009)

CLE Materials Session II (Saturday 11-07-2009)

CLE Materials Session III (Saturday 11-07-2009)

We look forward to seeing you at the Retreat.

June 25, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m 

Cost: $75.00** Lunch provided  4 CLE credits approved

Please RSVP to Doris at dvandenakker@rqn.com

This symposium will be held at the Federal Courthouse (350 South Main St.) in Judge Benson’s courtroom.  The symposium will include a presentation from Mary Crane, a nationally recognized expert on generational issues in the workplace; and will also include discussions about the best practices for retaining and advancing women attorneys.  Please see below for more information about the Symposia!

**WLU is offering a reduced fee of $25 for individuals with special circumstances (including law clerks, government attorneys, solo practitioners, non-profit attorneys, law students or those with special circumstances). Contact Doris at 801-323-3418 or dvandenakker@rqn.com for more information and to RSVP.

See you there!

INITIATIVE ON THE ADVANCEMENT AND RETENTION OF WOMEN ATTORNEYS:

The Women Lawyers of Utah will be releasing the results from the survey for the Initiative on the Advancement and Retention of Women Attorneys shortly. Two symposia are scheduled to discuss the results and explore the issues.

SYMPOSIUM I: Thursday, MAY 21, 2009 - RSVP Now!

Identifying the Problem and How It Hurts your Bottom Line

Please join Chief Justice Durham and Women Lawyers of Utah for a morning symposium on why the retention of attorneys is a good business practice. Topics include: The Unveiling of the Retention Survey Results ♦ Discussion of the Best Business Practices and ♦ The Financial Implications of Retention

♦ Special Guests: Cynthia T. Calvert, co-director PAR at UC Hastings College of Law and Blane R. Prescott, the Hildebrandt Institute — nationally recognized experts on retention issues in the work place. Also featuring prominent local attorneys and judges!

MAY 21, 2009 ♦ 8:30 am – 1:30 pm ♦ Cost: $75.00** ♦ Lunch provided

Scott M. Matheson Courthouse ♦ 450 South State Street ♦ SLC, UT

4 Credits of CLE pending

♦ RSVP to Doris at dvandenakker@rqn.com

** If your firm is an Initiative sponsor, a limited number of complimentary passes are available. Also, WLU can reduce the cost of attendance for the first symposium from $75 to $25 for individual with special circumstances (it can include any law clerks, government attorneys, solo practitioners, non-profits attorneys, law students and anyone in other situations who wishes to attend but cannot pay the full fee). Contact Doris at 801-323-3418 or dvandenakker@rqn.com for more information and to RSVP.

SYMPOSIUM II: SAVE THE DATE -  JUNE 25, 2009

ON: Moving Forward and Best Management Practices

Featuring experts: Mary Crane, Karen Lockwood and more

See you there!

On April 28, 2009, Women Lawyers of Utah named Barbara Bearnson the 2009 Christine M. Durham Woman Lawyer of the Year at its Annual Fireside Chat.  The Fireside Chat is a yearly gathering of members and guests to hear an address from Chief Justice Christine M. Durham, of the Utah Supreme Court.  Criteria for the award include professional excellence and integrity, demonstrated through an awareness of the needs and concerns of women, and advancement of women inside and outside the legal profession.  Former recipients include women from the judiciary, private practice, and government practice.

Ms. Bearnson began her prosecutorial career in the Salt Lake County Attorney’s Office in 1983, where she prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases.  Her sound judgment, innate intelligence, and compassion for victims resulted in her assignment to the Special Victims Team, where she specialized in the prosecution of child abuse, sexual assault and other violent crimes.  In 1988, she was hired by the Utah Attorney General’s Office, where she worked in the Criminal Appeals Section and become one of the founding members of the Child Abuse Protection Unit.  In that role, she prosecuted child abuse cases and provided training and assistance to deputy county attorneys statewide.

As an Assistant United States Attorney, Ms. Bearnson has effectively prosecuted a broad range of criminal cases for over 15 years.  Based upon her abilities, she was promoted to the Deputy Chief of the Violent Crimes Section, and then to Chief of the General Crimes and White Collar Section.  In 2006, she was appointed Chief of the Criminal Division where she oversees the entirety of federal criminal prosecutions filed in this state.  Her breadth of experience, demonstrated skills, and strong work ethic are respected and valued by her colleagues in her office and her peers throughout the legal community.

In addition to her remarkable legal career, Ms. Bearnson served for many years on the Board of Directors for the Salt Lake City YWCA.  Ms. Bearnson’s efforts on behalf of the YWCA were at the forefront of efforts to stop family violence.  Ms. Bearnson also serves as a role model in her family life, as the mother of three children.  Because of her commitment to her own family, she is sensitive to, and considerate of, the needs and concerns of other working mothers.  As a member of upper management in the United States Attorney’s Office, she has been a champion of flexible work arrangements for attorneys with young children.

Women Lawyers of Utah congratulates Ms. Bearnson for her significant achievements.  

The Town Club
1081 East South Temple

Appetizers and drinks will be served.  At the event, the WLU will announce the winner of the 2008 Christine Durham Woman Lawyer of the Year Award.  This event is free to WLU members and $20 for non-members.  (1 hour CLE credit pending.)