2020 World Forum for Women in the Law

The American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession's first-ever World Forum for Women in the Law in the United States was held virtually from October 20 to 22, 2020.  This unique conference focused on Women, Power, and Disrupting the Status Quo.

The Forum brought together over 200 invited women leaders in the legal profession, representing a global array of international firms and corporations committed to advancing women into leadership roles. Sessions were led by prominent leaders in all areas of practice: private law firms, public and private corporations, the judiciary, government, and NGOs. 

The Forum's interactive program provides opportunities to learn about strategies and initiatives that have been successful across firms and organizations from around the globe and to engage in dialogue with leaders in the field.

Please reach out to the Commission staff at [email protected] with any questions.

Speakers

• Christina Blacklaws, Immediate Past President, Law Society of England & Wales
• Connie Collingsworth, Chief Operating Officer, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  
• Patricia Diaz Dennis, Board Member, U.S. Steel; Entravision Communications; Amalgamated Bank
  
• Fatima Goss Graves, President & CEO, National Women's Law Center
  
• Maria Green, Senior VP & General Counsel, Ingersoll Rand; Director, Tennant Co
• Brett Hart, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
  
• Hon. Letitia James, Attorney General for the State of New York
• Ambassador Audrey Marks, Jamaica's Ambassador to the United States
  
• Michele Coleman Mayes, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, New York Public Library
  
• Hon. Margaret McKeown, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  
• Nancy Northup, President & CEO, Center for Reproductive Rights
  
• Tshepo Shabangu, Chair, Spoor & Fisher, Republic of South Africa

Planned Programs

Power Play: Global Women's Leadership and the Exercise of Power
Panelists will be women ambassadors and other lawyers with senior government service.

Cultivating Allies and Building Your Powerbase Panelists will include leaders of international corporations, law firms, and government.

Global Justice: Changing the Paradigm for Women's Rights Panelists will include judges, public officials, and NGO leaders on the front lines of international issues affecting women's rights.

Are You Board Ready? Panelists will include women lawyers who are members of public boards to share their insights about the value and process of board membership.

Levers for Transformative Organizational Change: Panelists will discuss the most up-to-date approaches to organizational and culture change such as gritty teams, bias interrupters, and gender targets.

Formal and Informal Networking Activities, Receptions, and Events

Small Group Sessions

• The Rule of Law in Systems Vulnerable to Corruption
• How Global Women Leaders Lead Differently Around the World
• Media Ready: How to Get the World to Look and Listen
• Making Decisions: the Role of Reason, Emotion, and Bias - Yours and Others'
• Well-Being Strategies for Change-Makers