NALP Award of Distinction for Writing 2009

Lynne Traverse, recruiting and professional development manager for Bryan Cave’s Phoenix office, was honored with a 2009 Award of Distinction for Writing by NALP — the Association for Legal Career Professionals — during the 2009 annual meeting of that association on April 3, 2009, in Washington, DC. The NALP Award of Distinction for Writing is awarded to an individual, legal employer, academic institution, or other law-related organization for outstanding written contributions to the recruiting and career services profession. In addition, during the NALP annual meeting, Ms. Traverse was elected to serve as a 2009-2011 Director on the NALP Board of Directors.

Founded in 1971 as the National Association for Law Placement, Inc, NALP is a nonprofit association dedicated to facilitating legal career counseling and planning, recruitment and retention, and the professional development of law students and lawyers. Today the membership of NALP spans three continents and includes virtually every ABA-accredited law school and more than 800 of the largest law firms and legal employers. Within those organizations, NALP’s member representatives head law school career development offices and law firm recruiting and professional development departments.

Lynne Traverse has more than 26 years of experience in attorney recruitment, which has included every level of attorney hiring from summer associate programs through partner acquisitions and firm mergers in California and Arizona. In addition, she has created associate training programs; administered regional marketing and business development efforts; and been a frequent speaker and coach at various law schools on professional presentation skills.

The 2009 NALP Award of Distinction for Writing recognizes Ms. Traverse for her outstanding articles over the past year for The AmLaw Daily. Her timely and thoughtful articles have provided sage advice to law students and lawyers seeking to be recruited by a law firm during the rapidly changing market.

Ms. Traverse has been active in the Los Angeles Area Legal Recruitment Administrators, serving a term on the Board as Treasurer, the Phoenix city group of recruitment professionals, and the Orange County Area Legal Recruiting Administrators. Her active participation in NALP since 1984 has included service as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Attorney Development and Evaluation Committee, as Vice-Chair of the Employment Diversity Committee, as Chair of the Recruitment Practices Committee, as Chair of the Experienced Professionals Section, and as a member of the Part V Task Force. Ms. Traverse was honored in 2005 as one of the first recipients of the NALP President’s Award.