History of Renaissance Lawyer

From Renaissance Lawyer to Renaissance Lawyer Society

From dream to international non-profit organization

Founded LAS VEGAS, NV JUNE 15-17, 2001 

"Renaissance Lawyer" ("RL") was first envisioned by J. Kim Wright, J.D. who in collaboration with  Carolyn Hansen, J.D. and Bryden Manning, J.D. created our predecessor organization in September, 2000.  Both Carolyn and Bryden had personal issues that took them away from the daily activities of laying the foundation of an organization. Kim worked full-time for several months, interviewing and networking with lawyers all over North America. Soon, she began to recognize that there were many lawyers who shared similar values and frustrations with the legal system. She began to speak of a movement and to connect these kindred spirits. The movement gained momentum and more help was needed so, in February, 2001,  Allison Tiffany, J.D. joined Kim in pulling together the many different approaches to innovating law practice.  Still, it was apparent that the movement was growing too fast for the two of them and in spring, 2001, a leadership team was created. In June, 2001, that  initial leadership team attended the founding meeting and planning retreat in Las Vegas, Nevada. We called this team  "the Leaders Circle" and it served as the core group to continue  the work to the next level,  incorporating the non-profit entity and beginning the work of creating a resource center to transform the legal profession and the legal system.

Participating in the first organizational meeting were Leaders Circle members: J. Kim Wright, J.D. of Portland, Oregon; Allison Tiffany, J.D. of Henderson, Nevada; Cheryl Stephens, LL.B. of Vancouver, Canada, Pat McHenry Sullivan, M.A. of Oakland, California; Marilyn Westerfield, R.N., J.D. of Maine; Kevin Ginsberg, J.D. LMT, of Durham, North Carolina; Dolly M. Garlo, R.N., J.D., of Cudjoe Key, Florida; and, by speaker telephone, Carolyn Hansen, J.D., of New York. 

After the Las Vegas meeting, the Leaders Circle continued to meet by telephone, as a group every Tuesday, and with committees in between.  The challenge:  to create an organization that honored and supported the movement toward transforming the legal system, acknowledging that we are not the movement but that we can support the movement and support and network with those courageous lawyers and others  who are part of the movement.

The Leaders chose the name of the Renaissance Lawyer Society for the new corporation.  They created Renaissance Lawyer as a membership-based organization and created a mission, vision, and values for the new corporation. They elected a new board of directors and launched a drive for founding members.  In January, 2002, about 30 of the 100 founding members gathered in Portland, Oregon. Big plans were created, some of which are still in process; some have exceeded our expectations. In 2002 and 2003, we co-sponsored restorative justice week, initiated and wrote several articles in bar journals and IONS magazine, attended conferences, spoke at conferences, and published the Cable and Connexion. We have supported gatherings of lawyers in several states and communities. In February, 2003, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, members gathered for the first annual conference. Later that year, after considerable work and preparation, we were granted 501c3 non-profit status by the IRS. 

A constant project has been updating of the web site, always 'under construction'. In late 2003, we were blessed to find a graphic designer who agreed to work with us on a site that better represents us and the movement. We expect to launch the new site in early 2004. 

And, the rest is history in the making.