Frances M. Riley
2013
President
Association
for Women Attorneys (AWA)
Goals, Initiatives and Platform Statement:
AWA has always had a professional/student- mentoring program. I want to initiate a professional- to-professional program. It is very difficult for new lawyers to develop effective practice skills and expertise, especially those who are on their own. Also, many times even experienced attorneys need assistance in unfamiliar areas. Hopefully, this new initiative of AWA will match professionals, provide educational programs and further enhance the practice of law. Shared knowledge and improved skills benefit us all.
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| Photograph by Kim Brukardt (l to r) Judge Kay Robilio, AWA President Frances Riley, Anita Lotz at the Annual Banquet |
Originally
from Scranton, Pa., East Memphis resident Frances M. Riley is the shared law
clerk to the Bankruptcy Judges of the Western District of Tennessee, Eastern
and Western Divisions. Prior to joining the bankruptcy court, Riley was in
private practice during which time she focused on business bankruptcy
reorganization and general business law.
Riley has extensive experience in construction, zoning, housing and
community development law. She obtained her bachelor of science degree in
community development from Pennsylvania State University, and her juris
doctorate from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She is a member of the Memphis Bar
Association and Association
for Women Attorneys, as well as a fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation. She is admitted to practice in
Tennessee Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee;
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Tennessee; and the United States
Supreme Court.
Riley served in many AWA leadership positions prior to becoming the 2013 AWA president. Previously, she was treasurer (2005-2007); TLAW board representative (2008 -2009); Tennessee Bar Foundation IOLTA Grant Committee representative (2007-2009) and Memphis Bar Association House of Delegates representative (2008); Memphis Bar Association Board of Directors representative (2010-2011 and 2013); vice president (2011); and president-elect (2012).
Prior to becoming an attorney, Riley was a community developer/planner who worked at the federal, state and local levels. She was actively engaged in nonprofit development and administration and was the executive director of St. Patrick Neighborhood Housing Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that financed, built and renovated inner-city homes. Riley also was the executive director of the Memphis Design Center, an organization that completed the initial conceptual design for the transformation of the Lorraine Motel into the National Civil Rights Museum. This conceptual design was used in the museum’s initial fundraising efforts. In addition, Riley previously served in many administrative positions for the City of Memphis, Division of Housing and Community Development before being named acting division director.
An active leader in her community, Riley was a board member of the University District, Inc. (UDI) from 2004 to 2009 and vice-president in 2009. She also was on the board of the University Neighborhood Development Corporation (UNDC) from 2005 to 2009.
