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Women Lawyers
WilmerHale is a community of equals. Nevertheless, we also recognize that there are certain issues and concerns that predominantly affect our female attorneys, including the historical lack of women mentors at the upper levels of the profession, the pressures associated with balancing the demands of legal practice with the demands of raising a family, and the unique obstacles faced by women in trying to build client relationships and develop business.
With this recognition, WilmerHale has sought to implement policies and develop programs (both formal and informal) designed to assist its attorneys, especially its female attorneys, in tackling these problems. These include mentoring programs that seek to ensure that all of the firm’s attorneys receive the same opportunities, advice and encouragement needed to achieve their full potential, and work/life balance related policies including a flexible and generous parental leave policy.
Through the efforts of a group of women partners, counsel and associates throughout the firm, the WilmerHale Women’s Leadership Initiative ("WLI") was established to promote the retention and advancement of our women lawyers. Our Management Committee strongly endorses the efforts of the WLI, which is an important component of the firm's social compact with all its lawyers, men and women alike, to support and enhance their professional development. The WLI focuses on providing:
- Internal and external networks of women attorneys;
- Business development training for women lawyers and business development initiatives involving women clients and alumni; and
- Career advancement and training programs tailored to the needs and interests of women attorneys.
The WLI's series of career development and training programs have included sessions on career negotiation for women attorneys. One program featured a presentation by a consultant and a panel discussion with WilmerHale partners (male and female). As follow-up, the WLI has held a series of small-group discussions in which women attorneys discuss issues of importance to them as they develop their careers. Another program in the series addresses communication skills for women attorneys. Through lectures and small group exercises, this program explores the gender-related differences in communication styles and how those differences can affect the impact of communication. Other WLI training programs focus on negotiation skills and relationship building.
WilmerHale is a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers ("NAWL"), an organization aimed at advancing and supporting women in and under the law. As an active participant in NAWL, WilmerHale hosted a 2007 NAWL-sponsored program for Washington, DC area women wishing to return to the law after several years away ("on-ramping").
While the firm's record in regard to the retention and advancement of women compares very favorably with that of most other law firms, we are determined to be a leader and to help move the entire profession forward. We take pride in having been selected for three consecutive years as a "firm of choice" for women in the Working Mother Magazine & Flex-Time Lawyers survey of "Best Law Firms For Women," and selected as one of Yale Law Women’s Top Ten Family Friendly Firms in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
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Susan Murley
Partner, Corporate, Boston
"We have an extraordinary group of women at this firm. We have women who are leading practitioners in their field, we have women who are leading practice areas, we have women in firm management, and we have two women who were recently named among the fifty most influential women in the country."
Please click here for Ms. Murley's biography.
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