It is important for law firms to recognize and encourage the leadership skills of their women attorneys. Being a wife, mother, and anything else that we aspire to be does not preclude women attorneys from also providing high-quality legal service. Now more than ever our women attorneys have an important role to play in leading client teams. WLI’s hope is to continue cultivating a culture that fosters leadership, growth and mentoring opportunities at Littler.
We formed our Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) in 2008. The initiative focuses on developing and retaining women leaders because we value the importance of having women leaders at every level of the firm. Lawyers involved with this initiative are able to discuss their experiences and readiness to take on new roles, learn how to promote their successes and identify what skills are needed to advance. WLI provides lawyers in the firm with the tools and resources to achieve their goals. As there may be some perceived differences in the ways in which women and men lead and communicate, this group encourages important dialogue around learning how to work effectively with each other. As the labor and employment law environment changes, WLI is here to make sure Littler is able to handle whatever the future brings.
Objectives
- Leadership development
- Growth opportunities
- Work/life balance considerations
- Mentoring opportunities
- Client relationship building and business development
- Retention
Initiatives
- WLI Leadership Development Forum
- National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL)
- American Bar Association’s (ABA) Women in Law Section
- Corporate Counsel Women of Color Conference (CCWC)
- Hastings Law School Women's Leadership Training Course External Relationship Building
Recognition
The American Lawyer - Am Law 200
- Ranked #3 - Female Equity Partnership, 2017-2019
Employment Law360
- Ranked #1 – Best Law Firms for Women, 2017-2019
- Ranked #1 – Ceiling Smasher, 2017-2019
- Ranked #11 – Best Law Firms for Minority Attorneys, 2018
- Named, Best Firms For Women And Minority Attorneys, 2018
National Law Journal 500
- Ranked #4 – Women's Scorecard, 2020
Vault Law 100
- Ranked #6 – Diversity for Women, 2021
Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF)
- Certified as a “Gold Standard Firm,” 2011-2021
Working Mother Magazine
- Named, Best Law Firms for Women, 2011-2014, 2016-2019
Yale Law Women
- Named, Top Firm for Flexible Work Options, 2020
- Named, Top Ten Firm for Gender Equity, 2018-2019
