On November 17th the Bar Association of San Francisco’s (BASF) Women’s Impact Network – No Glass Ceiling 2.0 Committee held its 4th Annual Conference with the theme Legal Trailblazers at Golden Gate University. Attendees gathered in person to learn from and engage with leaders in the legal profession and the business world about ways to make an impact and redefine the culture for people of all genders. Barristers Board President Lindsey Mignano, SSM, opened the event and recognized BASF and its Justice and Diversity Center’s Board President Mary McNamara, Swanson & McNamara, as a Legal Trailblazer for her work leading the Legal Alliance for Reproductive Rights (LARR) in the wake of the leak of the Dobbs decision. The Alliance is a volunteer effort by 70+ law firms that intend to provide free legal services to people in states that lose their rights to reproductive justice.
The first panel, Women in Law: Discovering the True Meaning of Success, explored the highly acclaimed book by the same name. The book takes you inside the personal and professional lives of 23 women of different ages, races, ethnicity, and sexual orientation as they disclose how they found a path to success that reflected their values and career goals. Featuring JAMS Mediator and Author Pat Gillette, Senior Advisor Barker Gilmore, Michelle Banks, Adjunct Law Professor, University of Seattle Law Maja Larson, and Attorney and Writer Zeynep Goral, the panel consisted of 4 of the 23 women whose stories were highlighted in the book. They discussed how to create more equity in the legal field, different paths to use your legal education and career experience, success and balance in life, and what it takes to be a rainmaker for others.
The second panel, Advocating for Women’s Reproductive Rights, featured the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Northern California, Gilda Gonzalez, and Teresa Johnson, Partner Arnold & Porter, who is BASF Board Treasurer and one of the organizers of LARR. They discussed how the Dobbs decision impacts women’s rights, what laws and restrictions are being seen nationwide, rights and resources available, how firms can join LARR, how to assist Planned Parenthood, the importance of staying engaged and ending the stigma with abortion.
The final panel, Law Firm Equity, featured Joanna Storey, BASF’s Vice-Chair of the Legal Ethics Committee, Klinedinst Law, Lindsey Mignano, Barristers Board President & Attorney for Startups & Small Businesses, SSM, and Kayla Delgado Grundy, Employment Law, Orrick, all with expertise in legal ethics. The panel explored laws designed to protect pay equity, gender equity, racial equity, and women’s rights in the workplace and provided successful strategies for recruiting, retaining, and advancing diverse individuals in law firms.
The conference moved to a networking reception to connect and keep the insights and learning of the day going. Thank you to Gold Level Sponsor Berman Tabacco and Silver Level Sponsor Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for supporting the conference and you can find upcoming gatherings and conferences on our Event Calendar.
