2010 Fall Retreat
      

Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq.
J.D./M.B.A./LL.M in Taxation

On the topic of: “From Homeless to Lawyer”: One Woman’s Amazing Journey

Hear the inspiring true story of one woman’s journey from poverty to lawyer.

Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq. is an unlikely success story. Born into poverty, she was homeless at age 9 and failed out of college by age 18. She did not let that stop her. Nikki got a job as a nanny during the day, went back to college at night, and graduated from the same college that she had failed out of four years earlier.

A 2004 graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, Nikki earned a J.D./M.B.A/ LL.M in Taxation in only four years. Nikki is now a tax attorney for The City of Philadelphia Law Department in the Major Tax Unit.

The discussion will explore Nikki’s journey and the life lessons she learned along the way. She has found that being resilient has played a large role in her success in life and as a lawyer. Resiliency is a skill that can be learned and is necessary especially in such challenging times. As we start to come out of the recession and very challenging work environments, women leaders need to be resilient to stay on top. Nikki’s experience has shown that you can reinvent yourself or your career.

Nikki is Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Women in the Profession Committee, a member of several boards of directors, and started a mentoring program for inner-city students interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession. Nikki has conducted numerous panels about issues related to education and co-moderated an event with Bill Cosby in November 2008 about her experience growing up in poverty. In addition she has won several awards including the Craig M. Perry Community Service Award given by the Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, been named a 2009 “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by the Legal Intelligencer, and one of the “10 People under 40 to Watch in 2010” by The Philadelphia Tribune. Nikki is also a host on the Comcast Channel 53 Show “A Life in the Law: Legal Leaders” and is a business correspondent on 1540AM “Backline Magazine”.

2010 Fall Retreat 

The St. Regis Deer Crest Resort, Deer Valley

November 5-6, 2010

The Retreat provides a great opportunity not only to obtain CLE credit, but to relax and catch up with old friends and meet new ones. 

Full registration includes both sessions and meals; alternatively, you may register for either of the two sessions independently.  Lodging is being provided at a discounted group rate, but must be secured separately (please see below). The last day to register for the Retreat is October 22, 2010.

CLE credit is pending (approximately 3.0 hours).

To Register :

Please return this completed Registration Form no later than October 22, 2010.  Send the Registration Form to WLU, c/o Nicole Skolout, Howrey LLP, 170 South Main Street, Suite 400, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 or email the Registration Form to womenlawyersofutah@gmail.com.

To Submit Payment:

Please either mail your check made payable to Women Lawyers of Utah in the amount of the total above to WLU, c/o Nicole Skolout, Howrey LLP, 170 South Main Street, Suite 400, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 or submit payment through PayPal below, no later than October 22, 2010.

Member Payment for the Retreat

Member – Both Sessions $120.00 Member – Evening Session Only $90.00 Member – Morning Session Only $50.00 Scholarship Requested $20.00

    

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If you are not a member, but wish to become one, you may become a member now and start saving on fees for all of our events.  

The membership for attorneys who have been admitted to the bar/in practice less than 1 year, as well as the students is FREE. 

Membership for attorneys who have practiced between 1 and 3 years is $30.

Membership for attorneys who have been practicing for 3 years or longer is $40.

 

New Member Retreat Payment + Dues

In Practice Less Than 1 Year – Both Sessions $120.00 In Practice Less Than 1 Year – Evening Session Only $90.00 In Practice Less Than 1 Year – Morning Session Only $50.00 In Practice Less Than 3 Years – Both Sessions $150.00 In Practice Less Than 3 Years – Evening Only $120.00 In Practice Less Than 3 Years – Morning Only $80.00 In Practice 3 Years or Longer – Both Sessions $160.00 In Practice 3 Years or Longer – Evening Only $130.00 In Practice 3 Years or Longer – Morning Only $90.00

Name, Address, Phone, Email

Law School, Grad. Year, Bar #

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If you do not wish to become a member at this time, but still would like to attend the Retreat, please select from the following drop-down menu.

Non-Member Payment for the Retreat

Non-Member – Both Sessions $160.00 Non-Member – Evening Session Only $110.00 Non-Member – Morning Session Only $75.00

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For Scholarships and Lodging Information, please see the Registration Form. 

BECOME A SPONSOR OF THE ANNUAL FALL RETREAT:Funds donated by sponsors are used to provide scholarships to qualifying women to attend the Retreat.  Sponsors are recognized in WLU’s publications, on WLU’s website and at the Retreat.  If you or your firm is interested in becoming a sponsor of the Fall Retreat, please contact Melanie Vartabedian at vartabedianm@ballardspahr.com. 

 You can also sponsor scholarships via PayPal:

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!

Getting Out Of The Weeds: Tips On Effective Communication About Who You Are And What You Can Offer As A Professional

By speaker Beth Noymer-Levine of SmartMouth Communications:

Date and Time:

Thursday, May 13, 2010

5:30-6:00 p.m. networking

6:00-7:00 p.m. presentation

7:00-7:30 p.m. Q&A of presenter and networking

Location:

Chapman and Cutler LLP

One Utah Center 201 South Main Street, 20th Floor(801)  Salt Lake City, UT 84111  801-533-0066

Registration Fee:

Free for WLU Members, $25 for non-WLU Members

RSVP by Monday, May 10, 2010 to Heather Farnsworth at heather@cannonmatch.com
  or (801) 322-2121.

Parking:

One Utah Center parking lot accessible heading east on 200 South between Main and State Streets. Visitor parking available on Level One. Validations available.

Other Information:

CLE and CPE credit applications pending.

Appetizers and drinks served.

 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.  

1 hour of CLE Credit.

The 2010 Fireside is limited to and free to WLU members. You can become a member of WLU online at http://utahwomenlawyers.org/become-a-wlu-member/ or by clicking HERE.

REGISTRATION FOR THE FIRESIDE IS NOW CLOSED.

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.