NUSL

Keynote Address:
Leocadia Zak ’82, Director, US Trade and Development Agency, leads an organization dedicated to encouraging economic growth in emerging markets and the export of US goods and services to those markets.

9:45 to 10:45 a.m.

Panel 1: Viewing new Vistas: How is the Changing Legal Landscape Affecting Women Lawyers?

It’s clear that the nation’s ongoing economic crisis is changing the way our workplaces and practices function. What’s less clear is just how—and how much—this emerging legal landscape is confining women lawyers within a “pink ghetto” of career advancement. Together, we will examine the collective impact new business and government structures and billing and funding models are having on women lawyers today compared with our male counterparts. We will also explore how best to bridge these gender differences in the workplace as well as in our individual careers.

Moderator: Emily Gray Rice ’84, Partner, Orr & Reno
Panelists:
Kelly Douglas ’92, Vice President and General Counsel, Vinfen Corporation
April English '00 Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
Deborah Howard ’82, Founder, Guiding Change Consulting
Deborah Thaxter ’78, Partner, Nixon Peabody

11:00 a.m. to Noon

Breakout Sessions (By Career Path)

Strategize with others in your field about how best to embrace the changes in today’s workplace. Participants select from:

• Private Practice/In-House • Nonprofit/Public Sector • Alternative Careers

Moderator: Gina Perini '01, Managing Counsel, GTC Law Group, LLP

Breakout Leaders:

Private Practice/In-House
Stephanie Perini-Hegarty, President & Managing Attorney, Perini-Hegarty & Associates, P.C.
Peggy Tirrell '00, Senior Corporate Counsel, EMC Corporation

Nonprofit/Public Sector
Kelly Douglas '92, Vice President and General Counsel, Vinfen Corporation
Melissa Woodard '00, Assistant District Attorney, Essex County District Attorney Office

Alternative Careers
Kathy Morris ’75, Chief Training and Development Officer, Sidley Austin LLP
Deborah Howard '82, Founder, Guiding Change Consulting

Noon to 1:15p.m.
Lunch & Networking

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Panel 2: Being a Pathfinder: How to Increase Your Social Capital

Increasing your social capital is about more than just networking. Whether you’re starting out or well on your way, building and strengthening your network of personal and professional relationships will help you succeed along your chosen path. Through the resources within your personal and professional network, and by aligning yourself with other people and organizations, you’ll create both personal value and a more dynamic career and workplace. More importantly, it is through the use of our social capital and the support of our networks that we can help ensure our workplaces are committed to hiring and promoting women, people of color and those in the LGBT community.

Moderator: Maura Healey ’98, Chief, Division of Civil Rights and Liberties, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Panelists:
Elyse Cherry ’83, Chief Executive Officer, Boston Community Capital
Thomas Hemnes, Partner, GTC Law Group
The Honorable Catherine White ’72, Of Counsel, Cetrulo and Capone
Toni Wolfman, Executive in Residence, Women’s Leadership Institute, Bentley University

2:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Breakout Sessions (By Career Stage)

Strengthen your network of social connections. Participants select from:

• New Lawyers and Students • In Career for 7+ Years • Transitioning Back into the Workforce

Moderator: Vanessa Candela '00, Senior Corporate Counsel, EMC Corporation

Breakout Leaders:

New Lawyers/Students
Tom Hemnes, Partner, GTC Law Group, and Abigail Hemnes '09, Associate, K&L Gates LLP

Seven Years Plus
Jessica Collins '00, Counsel, Raytheon Corporation
Elyse Cherry ’83, Chief Executive Officer, Boston Community Capital

Transitioning back into the workforce
Toni Wolfman, Executive in Residence, Women’s Leadership Institute, Bentley University

4:00 to 5:00p.m.

Networking Reception

Mix and mingle with guests, faculty and presenters.

Cost

$50 for NUSL graduates; free for NUSL graduates in the classes of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 as well as those who are currently unemployed; $100 for non-NUSL graduates.

Register by March 25, 2011 by clicking here or going to https://northeasternlaw.ealumni.com/WIL2011.

For more information, please call 617.373.8268 or contact Eileen Hommel at e.hommel@neu.edu.

Make sure to check out our yearlong schedule of Women in the Law Programs.

Women in the Law

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Download Audio From This Year's Panels:

Resource List for Women in the Law Conference Attendees

Schedule

8:30 a.m.

Registration, networking & Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m.

Welcome