Women's Initiative

Education. Networking. Career Development. ALFA International’s Women’s Initiative Practice Group provides women attorneys a variety of opportunities to facilitate their professional growth. These opportunities become more valuable as women continue their advancement in the in the legal world. 

ALFA International member firms have a strong commitment to diversity. To underscore and support that commitment, the Women’s Initiative Practice Group (WIPG) serves as the central forum for the ALFA women attorneys to network and share best practices concerning all aspects of the practice and management of law. The group is open to all women attorneys in ALFA International law firms, and includes lawyers at all stages of their careers.

The Women's Initiative Practice Group's goals are direct:  increase opportunities in other practice groups, share knowledge of best practices; confront and address the unique challenges of female lawyers; and build and strengthen meaningful business and personal relationships.

The group encourages its female members to highlight their achievements within their firms, and to bring that success back to ALFA International by becoming more active in the overall organization.  Since the creation of the WIPG, the number of female lawyers attending ALFA International seminars has tripled and continues to increase.  Many of those attendees have become active, not only in the WIPG, but also in the organization’s substantive practice groups.

The WIPG works toward:

• Offering networking and relationship building events specifically for ALFA women and female clients.
• Promotion and inclusion of female membership within all ALFA’s practice groups to enhance diversity for female clients and the organization.
• Providing a forum for interactive education and sharing of best practices and strategies that foster the continued professional success of women attorneys in ALFA International law firms, as well as our women clients.
• Creating an environment for leadership development and training for WIPG members.
• Partnering with local chapters of the Association of Corporate Counsel, and other bar associations and trade groups, to provide educational opportunities and networking events for women attorneys.

With monthly conference calls, the group tackles programs, opportunities, and strategies to strengthen the group internally while enhancing the external visibility.

A strong emphasis is placed on including a WIPG event at each of the ALFA Practice Group seminars. These events have included educational and networking breakfasts and lunches, as well as cocktail receptions and wine tastings attended by female clients from across the United States and around the globe. Furthermore, the WIPG hosts a CLE-accredited seminar in conjunction with the ALFA International Annual Business Meeting each October.

The group is proud to have created a unique program which encourages member firms to send their women attorneys to ALFA International events by reducing the financial costs associated with seminar attendance. The group also promotes female leadership at all levels within the ALFA International organization. 

Time and time again, these WIPG events continue to receive positive feedback from both ALFA International members and corporate counsel attendees.