Andalusia attorney Virginia Williams Grimes has been chosen as one of 30 lawyers from throughout the state to participate in the Alabama State Bar’s Leader-ship Forum, a program to identify future leaders of the profession.

State Bar President James R. Pratt, III, of Birmingham (Hare Wynn Newell & Newton LLP) said, “The Leadership Forum is the state bar’s first comprehensive program to provide leadership training to a group of promising attorneys from diverse backgrounds who aspire to become leaders in their profession and community and who serve as role models in matters of ethics and professionalism.”

This year, 71 applications were received from private practitioners, government and corporate lawyers throughout the state. After a rigorous selection process, 12 women and 18 men were selected.

Leadership Forum graduates return to their communities with a unique set of skills.

“Lawyers are trained problem-solvers. They naturally gravitate toward positions of leadership because those positions call into play their creativity and critical thinking skills,” Pratt said.

Participants are required to attend five separate training sessions including a two-day orientation program.