Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter

Home
United States
New Orleans, LA
Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter

The FBA is dedicated to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of attorneys involved in federal practice.

The Federal Bar Association (FBA) is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors.

11/03/2026

This CLE is TOMORROW. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from our amazing speakers who have great insight and experiences to share.

There are many ways to make a living with a law degree. As a result, the best career advice can’t be one size fits all. “Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder,” Sheryl Sandberg wrote in Lean In. And Dolly Parton once famously said, “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” These tips are true for all lawyers, but especially for women who more often balance practice with caregiving, career pivots, and other everyday plot twists. Three generations of attorneys will share ways, at every age and stage, to climb this jungle gym—from the long hours of building a practice and your reputation, to the mid-career stretch of proving yourself, to the perspective that comes with finally being the boss. At each stop, our panelists share practical, real-world strategies for checking in with yourself, adjusting course, and getting ready for whatever's next — planned or not. Whether you're just clocking in or you've been climbing for decades, this session offers honest, stage-specific guidance for building a legal career you’re proud of. And can live with.

Panel 1: “Pour Myself a Cup of Ambition”: Setting the Foundation & Climbing (30 min.)
Moderator: Sascha Leidecker, Tulane Law School (3L)
Monette Davis; Stone Pigman (Associate)
Eliza Gottfried; Promise of Justice Initiative (Senior Attorney)
Carly McCleskey, Loyola University College of Law (Westerfield Fellow)
Rachel Naquin, JJC Law (Attorney)

Panel 2: “Blood Starts Pumpin’”: Rising to the Top & Branching Out (30 min.)
Moderator: Chloé Chetta; Barrasso Usdin (Member)
Camille Bryant; Ochsner Health (Assistant General Counsel)
Stephanie Graf Gamble; Sessions Fishman (Partner)
Kathryn Munson; Stanley Reuter Alford Owen Munson & Paul (Managing Partner)
Kathlyn Perez; Perez Law (Founding Member)

Panel 3: “Service & Devotion”: View from the Top & Still Growing (30 min.)
Moderator: Hon. Janis van Meerveld; Chief Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
Judy Y. Barrasso, Barrasso Usdin (Founding Member)
Charline Gipson, City of New Orleans (City Attorney)
Alanah Odoms, ACLU of Louisiana (Executive Director)

Co-sponsored by - New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Association for Women Attorneys (New Orleans), Martinet Society, Tulane Women in Law, and Loyola Women in Law Student Association.

1.5 hour CLE, including 1 hour of Professionalism, has been approved in Louisiana
This CLE is offered at no charge, but advance registration is required.
This CLE is offered in person or by Zoom.

To register, click the link below or scan the QR code
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-a-way-to-make-a-living-cle-tickets-2002451202451?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/30/2026

The New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is again proud to offer the Malcolm W. Monroe Federal Practice Seminar and Swearing In Ceremony. Attendance at this seminar provides four hours of CLE credit, including one hour each of ethics, professionalism, and law practice management. Registration includes membership in the largest Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of practice in federal courts and facilitating interaction and communications between the bar and the judiciary (*See administrative note at the end for Baton Rouge attorneys). As an added bonus, the seminar culminates with a ceremony at which attendees can be sworn into all federal courts in Louisiana, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

This is the perfect program for any new admittees to the practice of law or any attorney who wants to be admitted to practice in the federal court system in Louisiana. Attorneys are also welcome to attend just for the CLE hours.

Details about each CLE session and the speakers we have attending, can be found on our website or in our Eventbrite listing. (links below)

For attendees wishing to be sworn in to one or all of the federal courts in Louisiana, there is a registration packet that must be completed. It can be found on our website by clicking the link below. There is also a download for additional forms that those applying will need to complete. Registration is required for this program and all paperwork to be sworn in is due to the FBA office no later than Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 3:00 pm.

AGENDA -
Registration from 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
The LSBA will be present to make Bar ID cards from 12:00 -1:00pm.

12:45-1:00 pm Welcome

1:00-2:00 p.m. – The Role of Implicit Bias in Your Legal Career and Community -- Professionalism CLE

2:00-3:00 – Ethics in AI Use -- Ethics CLE

3:00-3:15 p.m. – Break with light snack provided

3:15-4:15 p.m. – Lawyering 101: The Playbook Survival Guide -- Law Practice Management CLE

4:15-5:15 p.m. Order in the Courtroom:- What Judges Wish Lawyers Knew

5:15-5:30 p.m. Swearing In Ceremony and Admission to the Federal Courts
· Hon. Judge Wendy B. Vitter, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

* To our seasoned attorneys - this may not apply to you, but please share this with anyone in your firm who may have just passed the Bar Exam. Thanks! *

** For our Baton Rouge attendees, you may provide proof that you are an FBA member of the Baton Rouge Chapter instead of New Orleans. **

Link to Register
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/malcolm-monroe-federal-practice-series-cle-swearing-in-ceremony-tickets-2003096078292?aff=oddtdtcreator

Link to the Registration Packet and Additional Forms
https://www.fbaneworleans.org/events-one/malcolm-w-monroe-federal-practice-seminar-swearing-in-ceremony

10/27/2026

The New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is proud to host this annual event with our area law firm sponsors and guests. It is the perfect time to mix and mingle with the bench and the bar all while celebrating the judiciary.

Time is running out to sponsor this event. Sponsorships Available -
Platinum - $1,500 Allows 10 guests to attend
Gold - $900 Allows 5 guests to attend
Silver - $750 Allows 3 guests to attend

Sponsorships may be paid for on Eventbrite or by check. Sponsors should email their logo to [email protected] To pay by check - mail it to: New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, 500 Poydras St., B-245, New Orleans, LA 70130. To pay by credit card, please click the link below.

Individual tickets are also available.
Individual $75
Judicial Law Clerk $35
FBA Member Law Students $35

Sponsors are no longer asked to submit a list of attendees. Guests will check in using the name of the firm they are a guest of. Sponsors will be featured on social media, on our website, and in our quarterly newsletter.

Thank you for your support!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/federal-judges-reception-tickets-2002836217040?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/22/2026

Please join the Eastern District of Louisiana and the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in conjunction with the New Orleans Opera Association on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. for the Annual Alvin B. Rubin Symposium: A Night at the (Courthouse) Opera House: A presentation of Scalia/Ginsburg. An Opera by Derrick Wang. This ethics and professionalism program is a living memorial to Judge Alvin Rubin’s contribution to federal jurisprudence and legal scholarship.

A cast of musical talent from the New Orleans area will perform an opera about the unlikely friendship between Justices Scalia and Ginsburg. This opera weaves the actual text of famous majority and dissenting opinions into musical lyrics. The message of the performance is the importance of reaching across the aisle and ideological divide. The narrative highlights how the two fiercely ideological opponents sharpened each other’s legal arguments and maintained a deep, lifelong friendship.

The reenactment will be followed by an in-depth panel discussion between United States Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Jennifer Elrod and United States Fifth Circuit Judges James Graves and Stephen Higginson about professionalism from the bench.

For information about the Composer, Derrick Wang, please check our website or follow the registration link below.

This program is offered in partnership with the following organizations:
Bar Association for the Fifth Federal Circuit
Association for Women Attorneys
American Constitution Society
The Federalist Society
The Baton Rouge Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

And Corporate Sponsorships from
Lineal
Transnology

The program will be followed by a light reception from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. This program is in person only! Once the En Banc Courtroom is full, attendees will be directed to an overflow courtroom.

Approved for 1 Hour of Professionalism and 1 Hour of Ethics CLE Credit.

To register, please scan the QR code or click the link below
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/35th-annual-judge-alvin-b-rubin-symposium-tickets-2002080163664?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/20/2026

The New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association is proud to host this annual event with our area law firm sponsors and guests. It is the perfect time to mix and mingle with the bench and the bar all while celebrating the judiciary.

Sponsorships Available -
Platinum - $1,500 Allows 10 guests to attend
Gold - $900 Allows 5 guests to attend
Silver - $750 Allows 3 guests to attend

Sponsorships may be paid for on Eventbrite or by check. Sponsors should email their logo to [email protected]

To pay by check - mail it to: New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, 500 Poydras St., B-245, New Orleans, LA 70130. To pay by credit card, scan the QR code, or follow the link below.

Sponsors are no longer asked to submit a list of attendees. Guests will check in using the name of the firm they are a guest of.

Sponsors will be featured on social media, on our website, and in our quarterly newsletter.

Sponsorship pledges and payments must be received by October 26, 2026, to be listed on the sponsor board.

Individual $75
Judicial Law Clerk $35
FBA Member Law Students $35

Thank you for your support!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/federal-judges-reception-tickets-2002836217040?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/15/2026

There are many ways to make a living with a law degree. As a result, the best career advice can’t be one size fits all. “Careers are a jungle gym, not a ladder,” Sheryl Sandberg wrote in Lean In. And Dolly Parton once famously said, “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” These tips are true for all lawyers, but especially for women who more often balance practice with caregiving, career pivots, and other everyday plot twists. Three generations of attorneys will share ways, at every age and stage, to climb this jungle gym—from the long hours of building a practice and your reputation, to the mid-career stretch of proving yourself, to the perspective that comes with finally being the boss. At each stop, our panelists share practical, real-world strategies for checking in with yourself, adjusting course, and getting ready for whatever's next — planned or not. Whether you're just clocking in or you've been climbing for decades, this session offers honest, stage-specific guidance for building a legal career you’re proud of. And can live with.

Panel 1: “Pour Myself a Cup of Ambition”: Setting the Foundation & Climbing (30 min.)
Moderator: Sascha Leidecker, Tulane Law School (3L)
Monette Davis; Stone Pigman (Associate)
Eliza Gottfried; Promise of Justice Initiative (Senior Attorney)
Carly McCleskey, Loyola University College of Law (Westerfield Fellow)
Rachel Naquin, JJC Law (Attorney)

Panel 2: “Blood Starts Pumpin’”: Rising to the Top & Branching Out (30 min.)
Moderator: Chloé Chetta; Barrasso Usdin (Member)
Camille Bryant; Ochsner Health (Assistant General Counsel)
Stephanie Graf Gamble; Sessions Fishman (Partner)
Kathryn Munson; Stanley Reuter Alford Owen Munson & Paul (Managing Partner)
Kathlyn Perez; Perez Law (Founding Member)

Panel 3: “Service & Devotion”: View from the Top & Still Growing (30 min.)
Moderator: Hon. Janis van Meerveld; Chief Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
Judy Y. Barrasso, Barrasso Usdin (Founding Member)
Charline Gipson, City of New Orleans (City Attorney)
Alanah Odoms, ACLU of Louisiana (Executive Director)

Co-sponsored by - New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Association for Women Attorneys (New Orleans), Martinet Society, Tulane Women in Law, and Loyola Women in Law Student Association.

1.5 hour CLE, including 1 hour of Professionalism, has been approved in Louisiana
This CLE is offered at no charge, but advance registration is required.
This CLE is offered in person or by Zoom.

To register, scan the QR code or click the link below
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-a-way-to-make-a-living-cle-tickets-2002451202451?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/14/2026

In our fast-paced world of work obligations, family commitments, and finding time for yourself, where is the time to build your brand and market yourself as an attorney? How can you stand out in the saturated legal market? As this is often a topic of conversation, we have invited Elizabeth Brick to join us to give some tips and suggestions.

Elizabeth owns Coterie Strategies and is a legal marketing and business development professional with more than a decade of experience helping lawyers build their brands and maximize their revenue potential. She will give advice on advocating for yourself, raising your profile, and building the relationships that drive revenue. Elizabeth will have time for questions, so be sure to bring yours.

This program is open to members and non-members, so grab your friends and colleagues and join us for an evening of interesting conversation and fellowship! To ensure meaningful conversation, seating at this event is limited.

Drink tickets (2) and light bites included.

To register, scan the QR code or click the link below.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocktails-and-career-conversations-tickets-2002065625179?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/08/2026

In our fast-paced world of work obligations, family commitments, and finding time for yourself, where is the time to build your brand and market yourself as an attorney? How can you stand out in the saturated legal market? As this is often a topic of conversation, we have invited Elizabeth Brick to join us to give some tips and suggestions.

Elizabeth owns Coterie Strategies and is a legal marketing and business development professional with more than a decade of experience helping lawyers build their brands and maximize their revenue potential. She will give advice on advocating for yourself, raising your profile, and building the relationships that drive revenue. Elizabeth will have time for questions, so be sure to bring yours.

This program is open to members and non-members, so grab your friends and colleagues and join us for an evening of interesting conversation and fellowship! To ensure meaningful conversation, seating at this event is limited.

Drink tickets (2) and light bites included.

Please scan the QR code or click the link below to register.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocktails-and-career-conversations-tickets-2002065625179?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/06/2026

Congratulations to all those who recently passed the Louisiana Bar Exam! What an accomplishment!

The New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association will once again be offering our Malcolm W. Monroe Federal Practice Seminar and Swearing In Ceremony on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. Registration will open at 12:00 noon, and the program will begin at 12:45 pm.

Our program details and registration packet will be posted to our website no later than Tuesday, October 13th. (https://www.fbaneworleans.org/)

We have a great agenda of CLEs planned for you, and we look forward to having you join us.

09/30/2026

To Our Law Student Members:

Join us for our second annual Career Speed Dating Event. Come visit in a roundtable fashion with attorneys in the practice areas of Admiralty, Commercial Litigation, Criminal, Personal Injury, and Transactional. We will have representatives on both the Plaintiff/Prosecution and Defense sides. Listen to what they do every day. Bring your questions. Attendees will have time to visit with each of the practice areas. The roundtables will be followed by a reception.

To promote open conversation between our attorneys and participants, space is very limited. It is ONLY open to FBA Student Chapter members. This event is presented at no charge to our members.

If the event is sold out, please join the waitlist by emailing [email protected]. We will do our best to accommodate the waitlist.

Registration required. Please click the link below or scan the QR code.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/career-speed-dating-for-law-student-members-tickets-1999806184130?aff=oddtdtcreator

Address

500 Poydras Street, Room B245, Second Floor, Hale Boggs
New Orleans, LA
70130

Website

http://www.nofba.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.