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Conference For Women Lawyers
of Color:
LET'S NOT WAIT FOR THE WORLD TO CHANGE – What Women
of Color Can Do To Combat Barriers to Advancement
October 1,
2009, In its recent report, Women of Color in U.S. Law
Firms, Catalyst found that 75% of women associates of color
left their firms in the first 5 years, and nearly 86% before
their seventh year – numbers that are worse than for women
associates overall. Clearly, significant impediments to
advancement of women lawyers of color still exist.
The Catalyst Report enumerated the types of impediments
perceived or experienced by women lawyers of color and then
made suggestions of actions law firms could and should take
to respond to the identified issues. They recommended many
constructive institutional changes to firm management and
structure which, while valuable, will require substantial
investment in cultural change and will not happen overnight.
Nonetheless, there are women of color who have met the
challenges and succeeded as Philadelphia lawyers. At this
PDLG program, a panel of these successful women lawyers of
color, chaired by Charisse Lillie of Comcast Corporation,
will discuss whether they faced the challenges cited by
Catalyst and, if so, how they met them or worked around
them. These women have practical advice to give and by their
accomplishments can serve as role models for associates and
counsel in law firms and younger women in law departments.
We expect that, in addition to our panel, other
experienced lawyers who attend will contribute their
thoughts and suggestions, both during the panel presentation
and in discussions during the reception. We hope you will join us.
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Date:
Tuesday, November 3, 2009