Ms. JD has campus chapters at law schools across the country.  Together, these chapters form the National Women Law Students' Organization (NWLSO).  In April 2008, Ms. JD gathered women from 70 law schools and 33 states in New York City for a student leadership summit.  It was at this gathering that NWLSO was born.  Under the umbrella of Ms. JD, NWLSO is a national organization that represents the interests of women law students, provides a forum for women at law schools across the country to connect with one another and experienced practitioners, and links law school women’s organizations nationwide.  For all of us who have wished for the opportunity to meet students at other schools, discuss common interests or concerns, and expand our social networks on the national level, Ms. JD's NWLSO delivers! Info on How to Join NWLSO Available Here

Every year Ms. JD's NWLSO chapters participate in local and national networking events and skill-building workshops.  Examples of upcoming and past programs include:

The 2011-2012 NWLSO Handbook is a hands on guide for students who are currently running or considering founding a NWLSO or NWLSO affiliate on their campus. The guide is full of valuable information and can be accessed online free of charge. 

Ms. JD's 4th Annual Conference on Women in Law: Stand Up! Stand Out!  Ms. JD's national conference is coming to sunny Los Angeles April 1-2, 2011!  There will be programming for students and recent graduates, including career planning, skills workshops, and panel discussions. 

The First Annual D.C. Student Leadership Summit was held at Georgetown Law School (Gewirz 12) on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 1pm. Students from all 10 D.C.-area law schools attended and heard from a judge, a lobbyist, a law firm partner, and a government regulator about what attributes best recommend students and recent graduates to particular lines of work.

This fall's programming at UCLA is a great example of what an active chapter can do with the connections and resources available through Ms. JD. NWLSO at UCLA will be hosting panels on Clerkship Interviewing Advice, Parenting Success Stories from Big Law Frim Lawyers & How to Manage Pro Bono Opportunities.  Past programs at UCLA are detailed here. 

William & Mary is another example of a school with an exciting and interesting chapter. Not only did W&M lead the effort to organize the D.C. Student Leadership Summit, but past events include a Lunch with Justice O'Connor.

Another example of great student-initiated programming is last spring's communication workshop with Jay Sullivan at Columbia Law School.

Ms. JD's Third Annual Conference on Women in the Law: Avenues to Advancement 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."

The Gender in the Profession Curriculum Project: The formal barriers to women entering the legal profession have diminished, but there are still subtle structural barriers to women's ascension to leadership in the profession.  There is a significant amount of research and scholarship on women and the legal profession that lends itself to academic study.  A seminar is an important way to educate law students about this research and scholarship prior to their entering the profession.  There are very few law schools offering this kind of course so your law school can be on the forefront of this innovative new movement to study the legal profession from this unique scholarly perspective.