Our longtime commitment to women’s advancement encompasses creative initiatives, mentorship and women-focused development programs, extensive personal investment from our women attorneys, and more. Our success as an industry leader for women is driven in large part by our Women’s Forum—a next-level resource designed to propel women to the top echelons of legal practice.
Established in 1996, Ropes & Gray’s Women’s Forum is geared exclusively toward helping women accelerate their careers by building deep relationships and skill sets that will position them to lead and progress. By offering workshops in networking, marketing, mentoring, leadership training and business development, the Women’s Forum plays a vital role in helping women lawyers navigate the unique challenges they may face as they advance their careers.
Mentoring Circles
- In order to foster an environment in which women attorneys can discuss topics of interest, such as networking opportunities, professional development, and issues faced by women generally, the Women’s Forum has designed a mentoring program based on “mentoring circles.”
- These small groups facilitate relationships between partners, counsel and associates, providing female attorneys with the opportunity to get to know colleagues in other practice groups and from various levels.
Investing in Female Talent
- The Joan D. Fuller Development Grant encourages women attorneys to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and seek out initiatives that will help them achieve their professional goals. Joan D. Fuller (1928–2018), a partner in the private client group, joined Ropes & Gray in 1962 and became the firm’s first female partner in 1973.
- Women @ RopesTalk, a podcast series hosted by Ropes & Gray’s Women’s Forum, spotlights extraordinary women who have had successful careers and are making a positive impact in their workplaces and in their communities. The podcast features women attorneys at Ropes & Gray in conversation with prominent women clients, industry leaders and entrepreneurs. It is available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and at Ropes & Gray.
