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Ms. JD’s 2019 NWLSO Leadership Academy took place on Friday November 22, 2019 and Saturday November 23, 2019 at Harvard Law School. The attendees were a carefully selected group of 30 women who excel at their law school studies, in their communities, and have a passion for women in the legal profession. In total, over 20 law schools from across the country were represented.
The program kicked off on Friday with a panel hosted by Harvard’s Women’s Law Association and an opening reception at Latham & Watkin’s Boston office keynoted by Chief Judge Patti B. Saris of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Saturday was comprised of an intensive workshop which featured attorneys, thought leaders, and professional development professionals as well as a networking reception. Attendees enhanced their national network, learned tools necessary for professional development, and acquired valuable skills to bring back to their law school communities and use in their legal careers.
The agenda for Saturday included the following:
- Striking the Self-Promotion Balance: Demonstrating Your Value Without Being the Obnoxious Person in the Room with nationally recognized speaker Debbie Epstein Henry;
- A panel entitled “Life Outside of the Law Firm” featuring speakers with non-traditional legal careers including:
- Michele Alexandre, Dean at Stetson University College of Law
- Lauren Stiller Rikleen, Author and Founder of the Rikleen Institute for Strategic Leadership
- Eliza Sweren-Becker, Counsel of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice
- Kyona McGhee, Attorney and Founder of Trademark My Stuff
- Sara Dewey, Director of Farm & Food and Staff Attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation
- Interactive Workshop: Utilizing Your Time to Leverage Leadership Opportunities with career coach Jodi Flynn;
- Networking Skills Workshop with Diane Darling;
- A Keynote Luncheon with Hazel-Ann Mayers, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Ethics and Compliance Officer of CBS Corporation; and
- A panel entitled “How Men and Women Can Work Together to Bring Diversity to the Legal Profession” featuring:
- Allison Turner, Senior Associate at Latham & Watkins
- Micah Buchdahl, President of HTMLawyers. Inc & Chair of the ABA’s Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education
- Josephine Lee, Associate general Counsel at Converse
- Najee Thornton, Associate at Fenwick & West
- Monsurat Adbanjo, Founder & CEO of Brown Girl for the Arts Media
- Lisa Levey, Founding Principle of GenderWorks
For more information on the 2019 Leadership Academy, NWLSO, or Ms. JD’s many other programs, please visit ms-jd.org.
