The PBA Commission on Women in the Profession Committee presented the Lynette Norton Award to Pittsburgh lawyer Mary Suzanne Ramsden during its 16th annual Conference Luncheon Program on June 3.

The Norton Award was created in memory of Lynette Norton, a founding member of the PBA Commission on Women in the Profession who died in 2002. Norton was an advocate for young women in the legal profession and worked to promote literacy and women's rights. The award is designed to recognize and encourage female attorneys who excel in litigation skills and who are devoted to mentoring female lawyers.

Ramsden is a principal at Pittsburgh's Raphael, Ramsden and Behers P.C. She has lectured and served as a seminar panelist on a range of topics, including custody issues, child welfare and family law. She is a former editor of the Child Protective Services Quarterly.

Actively engaged in efforts by the organized bar, Ramsden is a member of the PBA and its Commission on Women in the Profession Committee's Executive Council. She also serves as a Zone 12 delegate in the PBA House of Delegates.

Ramsden is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association. She served on the ACBA Board of Governors from 2004 to 2006, as ACBA secretary from 2004 to 2006 and as treasurer of the ACBA Family Law Section from 2002 to 2004. She also has been a member of numerous committees and sections of the ACBA, including the Court Relations Committee, Judiciary Committee, Probate and Trust Section, Professionalism Committee, Mentor Committee and Women in the Law Committee. Ramsden is a charter fellow of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation.

In addition, Ramsden was co-president of the Women's Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania from 1998-2000 and secretary of the association from 1996 to 1998. She was a member of the American Inn of Court from 1993 to 1995, president of the Matrimonial Chapter from 1995 to 1997, master from 1997 to 1999 and master emeritus from 1998 to 2004.

Ramsden is a recipient of a YWCA Tribute to Women Award and received the Susan B. Anthony Award from the Women's Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh lawyer Mary Suzanne Ramsden