Events

In 2007 – 2008, the Women’s Law Association sponsored a wide variety of events and initiatives on campus and saw a dramatic growth in our membership, which now numbers nearly 500 students. 

Breaking Down Barriers: The Past, Present, and Future of Women in the Law
The Second Annual WLA Conference

            The Women’s Law Association hosted its second annual conference in February 2008, entitled “Breaking Down Barriers: The Past, Present, and Future of Women In The Law.”  The conference, generously sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, brought to campus a dozen successful HLS alumnae to speak to students about the changing roles of women in the law.  Panelists included former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder; Sandra Froman, the president of the National Rifle Association; Raya Dreben, one of the first women to be appointed to the Appeals Court of Massachusetts, and other professors, judges, and practicing attorneys.  Our keynote speaker was noted professor and pundit Susan Estrich who addressed the gathered students on public and private perceptions of successful women in the law.  The conference was a tremendous success and provided ample opportunity for one-on-one interaction between HLS students and alumnae, as well as generating enthusiasm and discussion among the student body.

Speakers

            The Women’s Law Association sponsored a variety of speeches and discussions on campus during the 2007 – 2008 school year.  Events included:

• Discussion with Professor Catherine MacKinnon on her book “Are Women Human?”

• HLS Women in Politics Panel with Dean Kagan, Professor Elizabeth Warren, and Professor Lani Guinier

• Panel on Preparing For A Successful Career at a Law Firm with HLS alumnae and lawyers from Davis, Polk & Wardwell.

• Cocktails & Conversations with Professors Christine Desan and Diane Rosenfeld

Academics and Career Development

            By bringing together members of all classes, the WLA spent much of this year working on providing advice about navigating life at the law school and planning for future careers.  Events included:

•  “Demystifying HLS: Why Law School is More Fun than You Think!” – a panel of 2L and 3L women offering advice on beginning 1L year in the fall and on approaching 2L year in the spring

• The Summer Job Bank - 2L and 3L members of the WLA contributed to a database of information on our summer work experiences which was distributed to all 1L’s in the organization, providing resources for questions about potential summer work and facilitating ongoing mentoring relationships.

• Law Review Competition Tips – WLA members were invited to join women editors of the Harvard Law Review for an inside look at life on the Review and tips for taking the competition

• Lunch with OPIA Director Alexa Shabecoff – WLA members joined Alexa for an informal discussion about navigating the public interest world after law school

• The WLA hosted countless events co-sponsored with prominent law firms to introduce students to women in a variety of practice areas and to help them navigate the interview process and careers in the private sector.  The most recent, held in April, was co-sponsored by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and featured two HLS alumnae who had recently been made partners offering a candid take on life in a law firm.

Community Service

            The Women’s Law Association continues to demonstrate its commitment to public service.  Efforts included:

• The WLA sponsored a campaign to collect used cell phones for distribution to women’s shelters during Domestic Violence Awareness month.

• The WLA hosted a toiletries drive, collecting toiletries gathered by 2L’s and 3L’s traveling during Fall OCI.  The toiletries were donated to a local homeless shelter.

• This spring, the WLA served as a co-sponsor of the Dinner for Darfur.

Women’s Issues

            The Women’s Law Association provides a community for the women at Harvard Law to discuss gender issues and to serve as advocates for women on and off campus.  Efforts included:

• Women joined together for a series of dinner conversations throughout the year about gender and the law, including discussions of the role of women in the classroom, changing notions of female leadership, and the treatment of gender issues in the presidential election.

• A group of WLA members, along with representatives from other campus affinity groups, began an effort to consult with Dean Kagan about life for women at the law school and efforts to recruit a more diverse faculty.

Social
The WLA strives to create a community of women on campus who can come together to learn from one another, to relax and to have fun.  Our social and sports offerings this year included:

• The annual Big Sister/Little Sister Kickoff Dessert Party in early September, bringing together 1L’s with their “big sisters” from the second and third year classes and welcoming everyone back to campus.

• A WLA sponsored kick ball game on Cambridge Common.

• Free squash lessons, taught by a former member of the Wellesley Varsity Squash team, for all WLA members in the fall.

• WLA teams competed in Hemenway’s annual team fitness challenge.

• A pizza study break for 1L’s during January exams.

• As has become a WLA tradition, WLA members joined in golf lessons in Boston, as well as an outing to a local driving range, generously supported by a gift from Sidley, Austin LLP