Ms. JD’s Third Annual Conference on Women in Law - co-sponsored by the ABA's Commission on Women in the Profession and Young Lawyer's Division, NAWL, the Young Lawyer's Committee of the Chicago Bar Association, and the Women and Law Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association - highlighted the different career paths available in the legal profession, the changing definitions of success, and the personal and professional infrastructure that best promotes retention and advancement of female attorneys.

The conference was held November 20-21, 2009 in Chicago, IL at Northwestern Law School and featured more than 20 panels and workshops on topics as broad-ranging as effective mentorship, navigating the economic downturn, and avoiding a "mommy track." 

Click here to download our panelist and speaker biographies.

Over 300 men, women, students, and professionals attended the conference. Ms. JD is grateful for the participants' thoughtful and substantive contributions to the discussions throughout the day.

Schedule of Events

Friday, November 20th, 2009
9:00 AM -5:00 PM - Interactive Workshop for Students, Judicial Clerks, & Deferred Associates: Essential Skills for Women Lawyers: What You Need to Know to Achieve Success and Satisfaction in Your Career.

5:00-7:00 PM - Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, featuring Keynote Remarks by Michele Mayes, General Counsel, Allstate Insurance Company

Women's Night Out - Following the cocktail reception students were invited to join members of Northwestern Law School's Women's Leadership Coalition and other Chicago-area women's law groups for a night out on the town at The Martini Bar!

Saturday, November 21st, 2009
10:00-11:15 AM - Program 1:

Maximizing Your Summer Job
Avenues to Public Interest
The Indispensable Junior Associate
Inroads to In-House
Balancing Acts
Working with Men to Advance Women

11:30 AM -12:45 PM - Program 2:

Avenues to Criminal Law
Making the Most of Your Pro Bono Experience
Successful Interviewing Techniques
The Road Less Traveled: Alternative Schedules
Caught in the Downturn
The Old Girls Club: Maximizing Women's Initiative Effectiveness

1:00-2:00 PM - Lunch: Movie Screenings Sponsored by LexisHub & NAWL

2:15-3:30 PM - Program 3:

Avenues to Government
Paths to Independence: Starting & Building Your Solo Practice
Bring on the Rain: Business Development
Best Practices for Minority Women
On-Ramps: Workforce Re-Entry
Mind the Gap: Effective Intergenerational Mentoring

3:45-5:00 PM - Program 4:

Crossroads: Turning to Alternative Careers
Avenues to Partnership
Public Access: Roads to the Bench
Getting the Good Work: Breaking Down Barriers to the Old Boys Club
Networking & Effective Self-Promotion
Rough Road Ahead: Avoiding the Mommy Track: How Does Having a Family Effect Your Career?

5:15-7:15 PM - Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Latham& Watkins