Covering Continued: Updates on Data from Within US Law Firms

April 2015

Featuring — Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU School of Law

Drawing on Professor Yoshino’s award-winning book, “Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights,” this seminar will address the phenomenon of covering — the strategy of downplaying outsider attributes to blend into the mainstream. While his previous presentation (at the Alliance’s 2014 Annual Conference) focused on covering in the Fortune 500, this update will examine data gathered specifically from law firms. Professor Yoshino will discuss the incidence and costs of covering for individuals and law firms and explore possible solutions.

Onwards & Upwards: Building a Successful On-Ramping Program

February 2015

Featuring — Laura Acosta, firm-wide Manager of Diversity and Professional Development, Goodwin Procter LLP and Kristen Page, Partner and Flex Policy Advisor, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

On-ramping is one of the best ways to retain talented lawyers. It’s also inexpensive, measurably effective, and helps attorneys transition smoothly back from leave with the option of working reduced hours for a limited period of time without having to apply or request permission. More importantly, returning attorneys are given the support they need to successfully ramp back up to their full practice levels. Laura and Kristen will share how their firms have successfully implemented on-ramping policies and how to start them in your organizations.

How to Write a Business Plan for Partners: Four Questions to Address

December 2014

Featuring — Sara Holtz, Founder & CEO, ClientFocus

Business development skills don’t stop once an attorney makes partner – if anything, these skills are even more essential at this level. Sara will lead participants through the essential questions partners need to ask as they map out their business development plan for the new year.

Top 10 Rainmaker Best Practices for Associates

November 2014

Featuring — Tasneem Goodman, Partner, Akina Corporation

Market conditions have brought the legal profession to the realization that success in a law firm depends, at least in part, on all attorneys’ — including associates — ability to develop business. Business development skills cannot magically be switched on once an attorney reaches partnership.  Just as associates’ and their firms’ expectations have changed around business development, both parties have a role to play in advancing the skills they need to become successful rainmakers.

Tasneem will share the fundamentals of business development, as well as the individual strategies associates can use and organizational solutions firms can implement to sow the seeds for rainmaking.

Self-Advocacy & Your Negotiation Plan: Praising Yourself to Inspire Others

September 2014

Featuring — Victoria Pynchon, Co-Founder, She Negotiates, LLC

It’s review time…are you ready?  Do you know how to be a self advocate or are you relying on someone else to advocate on your behalf?  Think again – be ready to learn, advance, and market yourself to supervisors, management, and partners by starting to think “it’s about me!” as you write your glory statement or negotiation plan.

Victoria will teach participants how to prepare for their career advancement through strategic self advocacy and negotiations.

Mindset, Grit & Resilience: Positive Change for Positive Results

July 2014

Featuring — Milana Hogan, Director of Recruiting & Professional Development, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Highlighting her extensive research and work showcased through the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession’s Grit Project, Milana will teach the science behind mindset, grit and resilience – and more importantly, how these common traits are integral in the careers of successful women lawyers. Participants will be provided with the tools to access and implement these traits and learn how to enhance the active retention and promotion of women in the profession.

Working Well: Connecting Wellness to Work-Life Control

May 2014

Featuring — Mark Goldberg, Global Wellness Manager, Latham & Watkins LLP and Carol Vitelli, Manager of Wellness Programs, White & Case LLP

There is growing attention to wellness programs and the importance they play in building resilience, decreasing absenteeism, and increasing morale.  But wellness is also an essential tool to achieving work-life control just as work-life control is essential to your overall well-being.  Making this connection successful is critical in the legal environment where stress, poor eating habits, and a stationary lifestyle are pervasive.

Mark and Carol will discuss the fundamental connections between wellness and work-life control by highlighting the business case and the strategy, implementation, and marketing processes of wellness programs as part of our collective efforts to realizing a happy, healthy, positive, and flexible workforce.

Leveraging Social Capital

February 2014

Featuring — Robert Nelson, Director, American Bar Foundation and Ellen Ostrow, Founding Principal, Lawyers Life Coach LLP

Social capital is not just your network; it’s the by-product of your efforts to contribute to the success of others.  In general, majority groups tend to have more social capital due to the ease of developing networks, while women and diverse attorneys are often excluded from these powerful circles.

Robert and Ellen will highlight ways women and diverse attorneys can strategically forge relationships with powerful allies via reciprocity and social capital and provide the latest research on how attorneys in the minority are (or are not) leveraging their social capital and the statistical effects of this on the legal profession.

Looking Ahead: Your Business Development Plan for 2014

December 2013

Featuring — Sara Holtz, Founder & CEO, ClientFocus

Sara is a noted business development coach for women lawyers and the author of “Bringin’ in the Rain: A Women Lawyer’s Guide to Business Development.” She will discuss the eight steps you need to take to develop a concrete action plan to grow your practice and career in 2014.

How Women Can Be Sponsor Ready

November 2013

Featuring — Ritu Bhasin, Principal & Founder, bhasin consulting inc.

Ritu will discuss key strategies and tools for becoming “sponsor-ready” from the individual and organizational perspectives.