Mariane Dorris for FAWL President Elect
Candidate Statement
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
I am running for President-Elect to ensure the retention, advancement, and promotion of women in the legal profession and because I am the candidate with the most relevant experience to serve in that role. I have been a member of FAWL for over twenty years and have served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the past three years in three distinct positions on the board: Treasurer (2021-2022), Public Relations Director (2021-2020), and Journal Editor (2019-2020). Serving in those varied roles has given me a breadth of knowledge on how the organization runs and a thorough understanding of all that it does. As Public Relations Director, I promoted all of FAWL’s great work, which kept my finger on the pulse of all things FAWL and in constant communication with our chapters to promote your great work as well. As Treasurer this term, I have been responsible for overseeing the budgeting of each and every program and event and have been your advocate in making sure every penny of your membership dollars are spent responsibly and, in a manner, to give you the most benefit.
I also serve on the Executive Council of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar. I have served as its Chair of the Inclusion, Mentoring and Fellowship Committee, the Scholars and Fellows Retention Task Force, and I am the incoming Chair of the Bankruptcy/UCC Committee. The driving focus of my bar service has been and will continue to be to increase diversity and inclusion in The Florida Bar and the legal profession. As part of those efforts, I have worked with The Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Business Law Section and FAWL in creating policies which will ensure diversity and inclusion in CLE programming so members from historically underrepresented communities will be included as moderators and faculty.
As a small business owner and working mother of two neurodivergent sons, I know firsthand the critical importance of the parental leave continuance rule and the need for lactation rooms in courthouses throughout the State. As President-Elect, I will continue FAWL’s mission to advocate for judicial rules of administration, procedural rules, and legislation that promotes gender equality, enables working mothers to thrive in the workplace and achieve a healthy work/life balance. Further, I will continue to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in the legal profession, judiciary, and community at large. I will create a Committee charged with encouraging and providing the necessary training and support for FAWL members to join bar leadership, including the The Florida Bar Board of Governors, sections, and committees, and to apply or seek election for judicial positions. Finally, I will continue my efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in FAWL’s leadership and its programming through partnerships with other voluntary bar organizations and will seek input from all segments of our membership on how we can serve you better.
Please visit www.ShukerDorris.com or my FAWL member profile. I humbly ask for your vote.
Thank you.
Mariane Dorris