Legal Services Alabama (LSA) is excited to announce Birmingham Managing Attorney, Farah Majid and Mobile Staff Attorney, Valynda Jerome-Williams have been selected to join Class 16 of the Alabama State Bar’s (ASB) Leadership Forum.

According to the ASB, the Leadership Forum is a “dynamic and highly effective program for nurturing and developing leadership skills and values among a select group of qualified, promising attorneys each year.”

The Alabama State Bar is the official licensing and regulatory organization of lawyers in Alabama. Created in 1879, the Alabama State Bar became an integrated bar in 1923 by an act of the legislature. Since then, ASB programs and activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice system. It is dedicated to promoting the professional responsibility and competence of its members, improving the administration of justice, and increasing the public understanding of and respect for the law.

The Leadership Forum is a highly competitive program with only 20 – 30 participants selected each year. Class 16 is the first new cohort since 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic stretched Class 15’s program time to almost two years.

Since its inception in 2005, more than 430 attorneys have graduated from the program.

“The Alabama State Bar constantly emphasizes service as it encourages its 19,000+ members to develop their leadership skills so that they can better serve their communities, our state and society in general. The Bar’s Leadership Forum is an excellent example of a Bar program that prepares Bar members for their future leadership with charitable organizations, local or State governing boards and councils, and political office,” said Alabama State Bar and LSA Board President Taze Shepard.