17
November
2020
|
10:24 AM
America/Chicago

Meet Amy Bender-Levy, new Joint Commission on Women in the Profession Co-Chair

Amy Bender-LevyThe Joint Commission on Women in the Profession was formed in 2013 by order of the Supreme Court of Missouri and in conjunction with The Missouri Bar. The commission is charged with assessing the status of women in the profession, identifying barriers to their advancement, combating bias in the justice system and in the legal profession, and with securing full and equal participation of women in the legal profession. Amy Bender-Levy of St. Louis was recently selected to co-chair the commission.  

Bender-Levy works for the Marks Law Firm, L.L.C. in Creve Coeur. She graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, with undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Women's Studies, and earned her JD from Saint Louis University School of Law. 

What are you hoping to achieve with your work on this commission? 

I hope that as a commission we can continue with the advancement of women within the legal profession and meet the needs of these women, no matter the practice area, group or size. I hope that we can at all times be relevant to the needs of the women in our communities and act on those needs. 

How will your experience/interest advance the commission’s goals?  

I have had the benefit of working at a large law firm, a nonprofit and currently at a small firm so I can relate to women in many different environments and situations. Additionally, I had the pleasure of serving as chair of Girls on the Run St. Louis a few years ago and currently chair Women's Philanthropy of Jewish Federation which have provided me with the tools to lead different types of committees and boards and work on a variety of topics to promote women and girls in the most positive light, in the healthiest ways and with confidence to do great things. 

How do you think the commission benefits the profession?  

The commission is the mouthpiece for the greater community of women within the profession. The commission seeks out the needs which are relevant and addresses those needs or addresses the needs as they are brought to the commission by members of the profession. The commission is also a reminder to the profession of the ongoing work needed for success of all of its members. 

How can lawyers get involved in the committee? 

I think that if a lawyer is interested in being involved, there should be a means for that involvement, whether in sub-committee or task force work, or being an advocate for the work done by the commission or related open enrollment Missouri Bar Women in the Profession Committee. 

Tell us something interesting or fun about yourself:  

I am a wife and mother of three, I am a wanna-be triathlete, a super-slow marathon runner, a vegan, a lover of the beach and warm weather, a huge wimp when it comes to cold weather, I am scared of heights, and I get sick looking at anything that goes in a circle including a merry-go-round! 

Do you have any final thoughts? 

I am honored at this opportunity and hope that as a commission we can all be transparent, collaborative and realistic yet eagerly optimistic of what can be accomplished together.