At the 2013 Women's Bar Leadership Summit, attendees were tasked with brainstorming to come up with original program ideas to address the three main themes of the Summit: Advancing Gender Equity in Legal Practice, the Judiciary and Society.  Discussion moderators were Pam Berman (NCWBA Immediate Past President; Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts), Jeanne Marie Clavere (Washington Women Lawyers), Cynthia Ouzts (South Carolina Women Lawyers Association), Sherrie Phillips (Alabama State Bar Association Women Lawyers Section) Kathleen Rastetter (Oregon Women Lawyers) and  Patricia Sturdevant (Women Lawyers of Sacramento; California Women Lawyers and NCWBA board member).  As equal pay in the legal profession was a topic raised by many of the speakers, it is perhaps not a surprise that several of the programs addressed this issue: Pay Equity Pledge (PEP) Program, A Toolkit for Negotiating Your Worth at Work Program, and Diversity Pays: A Conversation with Business Leaders. Two programs addressed increasing diversity on the bench, one by developing a pipeline program for law students, and the other with a focus on the federal bench. A sixth program proposed a Lecture Series of Six Sessions, leading to certification of firms or organizations as a "Five Star Award Winner for Gender Equity."

Take the ideas that best fit the energy and resources of your volunteers, adapt them as appropriate and let us know your suggestions about what works.  We will share your programs with other women's bar associations and sections.  And who knows, maybe your adaptation of one of these ideas will get national recognition with the NCWBA Public Service or Outstanding Member Program Award! 

Joan Williams led off the morning session at our 2013 Women's Bar Leadership Summit.  Click here to read recent comments she made in the Washington Post regarding millennial women and their attitudes toward equal pay and advancement.