The Belva Lockwood Society

The GW Law Belva Lockwood Society is the representative organization for female alumnae and a network to promote programming that supports and strengthens GW Law alumnae.

Belva Lockwood, an alumna of the law school and women's rights activist, was one of the first female attorneys in the United States, the first woman to practice before the Supreme Court and the first woman to run for President of the United States.

For the past 20+ years, GW Law has celebrated and honored her accomplishments and those of GW Law alumnae through the Belva Lockwood Award and Luncheon, in partnership with the student group Law Association for Women.

Please contact the GW Office of Law Alumni Relations to share thoughts on future programming for the Belva Lockwood Society or to become involved as a leader in this area.

Recent Past Programs

Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2015 – The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. Marybeth Peters, '71, was selected as the 2015 honoree because of her long and successful career of nearly 45 years in the Copyright Office, including serving as the 11th Register of Copyrights of the United States from 1994-2011. See photos from the 2015 Belva Lockwood Luncheon here.

Bike with Belva, January 30 in New York City – SoulCycle’s Director of Legal Affairs, Melissa Schoffer Farber, LLM ’06, hosted GW Law alumnae for a ride at SoulCycle’s new studio in the NYC Financial District for a morning of fitness followed by networking. Many of our alumnae know fellow GW Law alumna Belva Lockwood as one of the first women lawyers in the United States and the first to argue before the Supreme Court, but few may know that Belva herself is widely considered to be DC’s first female cyclist!

DC Breakfast with Belva, Fall 2014 – Dawna Steelman, JD '09, GW Law Alumni Association Board Member and Associate at Bryan Cave LLP, led a discussion with Elizabeth Jacobs, JD '84, at the Department of Treasury, and LaDawn Naegle, JD '84, Managing Partner of the DC Office of Bryan Cave LLP, about issues affecting women in the legal industry and related professional settings. 

Belva Lockwood Luncheon 2014 – The Belva Lockwood Luncheon is an annual opportunity honor the accomplishments of an alumna, network with attendees, and acknowledge the law school's crucial role in championing the careers of female attorneys. Peggy Zwisler, '76, was selected as the 2014 honoree because of her long and successful career as a trial attorney and because of her recognized excellence in client services. See photos from the 2014 Belva Lockwood Luncheon here.

NYC Breakfast with Belva, Fall 2013 – GW Law Alumni Association Board Member Lisa Mednick Owen, JD '84, and the GW Law Alumni Association hosted a networking breakfast along with DC Councilmember and GW Law Professor Mary Cheh to network and discuss future opportunities for GW Law alumnae programming. 

DC Breakfast with Belva, Fall 2013 – Carol Elder Bruce, JD '74, and the GW Law Alumni Association hosted a networking breakfast along with Professor Emeritus Teresa Moran Schwartz, JD '71, to network and discuss future opportunities for GW Law alumnae programming.