A Brief History of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

 Judge Megan Goldish graduated with honors from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and holds a BA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has worked in the field of law in Cook County, Illinois, for over 22 years, including serving as a judge in the Domestic Violence Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2014. In this capacity, Judge Megan Goldish reviews confidential records and motions as well as performs research and writes orders, among other duties. She is a member of various legal associations, including serving on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

Established in 1914, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) is one of the oldest and largest bar associations in the State of Illinois. Founded by nine female practicing Chicago lawyers, the association focused on working with the Public Defenders League for Girls in its early days, a now defunct auxiliary organization. Its current activities are mainly geared towards promoting the interests and welfare of female attorneys, as well as important social and political issues.

It seeks to promote, protect, and advance the interests of women lawyers as well as further the administration of justice by helping pass legislation for the common good. In addition to these objectives, WBAI also helps its members gain employment and is one of the first women's bar associations to allow the membership of male lawyers.

Gerry Spence Method for Trial Lawyers

Presiding over cases in the Domestic Violence Court in Cook County, Illinois, Judge Megan Goldish draws on more than 20 years of legal experience. As both a judge and former attorney, Megan Goldish utilizes techniques from theater training to connect with the people in her courtroom.

Trial lawyers often use theater techniques when giving opening statements or preparing clients to take the witness stand. One technique is psychodrama, which is taught in the Gerry Spence Method. Gerry Spence was a famous trial lawyer who took on high-profile cases defending clients against the government and large corporations.

The Spence Method uses psychodrama training by diving into each attorney’s case and bringing out the emotional human elements. Techniques used often include role reversal, soliloquy, and scene setting. The goal of this training is to make the client’s story more emotionally relatable for the jury.

The Spence Method focuses heavily on the lawyer’s opening statement, as Spence believes the most juries have already decided the case once both sides have given these statements. The opening statement is often made by a lone attorney at the front of the courtroom, much like monologues and soliloquys in the theater.

The Diversity Scholarship Foundation

Drawing on nearly 8 years of experience as a judge, Megan Goldish serves in the Domestic Violence Court at the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. Dedicated to promoting diversification within the legal industry, Judge Megan Goldish received the Advocate for Diversity Award from the Diversity Scholarship Foundation.

The Diversity Scholarship Foundation was established in 2008 by a group of judges and attorneys interested in advocating for diversification within the Chicago legal community. Since its establishment, over 50 associations have joined the Diversity Scholarship Foundation in its mission, which is mainly fulfilled by financially assisting under-represented and underprivileged minorities in attending law school via scholarships.

The foundation also has community outreach programming targeted at middle and high school students. In addition, it provides financial support to programs of bar associations dedicated to diversifying the legal community. One of the main fundraising events of the Diversity Scholarship Foundation is the Unity Award Dinner, held every year for the past 18 years. During the gala, awards are granted to people who have contributed to the community and diversity, as well as diverse law students across Chicago, who also receive various scholarships. In 2021, the foundation awarded 20 scholarships to deserving students.

Mock Trials for Law Students and Lawyers

A graduate of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Judge Megan Goldish works at the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Judge Megan Goldish also had served as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern University's trial advocacy program. She also supports and promotes the use of mock trials. for students and lawyers.

Mock trials are practice trials that can be utilized in a classroom setting. They are typically performed at law schools, and offer the opportunity for students to learn the art of debate and putting forth arguments in court. Mock trials can also help students refine their abilities at critical thinking and public speaking. Trials are complicated even for experienced lawyers, and mock trials can prepare them for the hardships they may encounter in court.

Mock trials offer law students and experienced lawyers a chance to test and obtain feedback on a future oral presentation. This allows for development of new theories for a case and to observe a case from another point-of-view.