Each week in October, the Center for Women in Law convened students for CWIL’s Power Lunch Series. The Power Lunch Series, a four part series sponsored in memoriam of Hortense Ward, highlights women whom have chosen different career paths to show there is no single pathway to success nor an ideal image of a woman lawyer. The series provides law students with role models and mentors and gives then a unique opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting.
The 2015 October Power Lunch Series showcased four women from different sectors in the legal field. Each speaker provided strategies on networking and developing mentors and discussed the decisions they made during their careers that led to success. Part one of the series featured Jane Webre, a partner at Scott, Douglass & McConnico, LLP, who spoke about her experiences arguing and unanimously winning a case in front of the United States Supreme Court. Part two of the series featured Hon. Micaela Alvarez, District Court Judge from the Southern District of Texas, discussing her journey from law student at Texas Law to federal judge. Part three of the series featured Sandra Phillips, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of Toyota Motor North America, providing insights into her path to becoming the top attorney of a global company and answering questions about the transition from outside counsel to in-house. Part four of the series featured Kristi Swartz, Managing Partner of Bryan Cave LLP’s Hong Kong office, speaking on how she built an international legal career and offering advice to law students who want to work abroad.
Here are a few things we heard at the event:
"Never remember, but never forget that you are a woman. It does not have to be the single animating aspect of your professional development, but it is a part of you so don't forget to send the elevator back down to help others rise up." - Jane Webre, Partner, Scott, Douglass & McConnico, LLP
"Diversity is good for us across the board, because we can have those dialogues. Hopefully that person who has a different viewpoint than me can influence me in some respects, and I can do the same thing." - Hon. Micaela Alvarez, District Court Judge, Southern District of Texas
"Life is about learning what is around the corner; network with everyone and don't ever stop improving. Steady yourself and weather the storm." - Sandra Phillips, General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer, Toyota Motor North America
"My journey led me to Austin to London to Hong Kong, and these diverse experiences have caused me to view the world differently with a new set of eyes (and a new pair of goggles, as they say in the UK)." - Kristi Swartz, Managing Partner, Bryan Cave LLP (Hong Kong)
The response to the Power Lunch Series from the students is immense:
“The Lunch series has provided me with valuable insight regarding specific types of law, gender issues in the workplace, and other tips for success. I have found it extremely beneficial to be able to see the different types of personalities of successful women in the law, and be able to work on cultivating skills that feel more natural to myself. I have greatly enjoyed the speakers that have been brought in so far!”
“Knowing very few lawyers on a personal level, hearing from personable, relatable women speaking about their successes in a variety of fields has opened my mind to possible careers I hadn’t yet considered.”
CWIL thanks Jane Webre, Hon. Micaela Alvarez, Sandra Phillips, and Kristi Swartz for speaking at the October Power Lunch Series and sharing their valuable experiences with law students. For information on other upcoming events, visit the Center for Women in Law website.
