Women's Networking Group

Established in 1998, the Schiff Hardin Women's Networking Group (WNG) welcomes all women attorneys at our firm, from the newest of associates to our most senior women partners, as well as women clients and friends of our firm. WNG actively creates opportunities for the women of Schiff Hardin to participate in career advancement and mentoring programs, internal and external networking activities, and business development programming. Our client events are designed to showcase our women attorneys and to demonstrate the firm's commitment to diversity and women's issues. Schiff Hardin has more than 125 women attorneys nationwide, which is approximately 30 percent of the firm. More than 50 women are partners in the firm and more than half of our associates are women.

The women attorneys at Schiff Hardin have a long history of planning and hosting events that help us support each other. From informal gatherings at the homes of women attorneys, to our current monthly lunch meetings, the group works together to provide a tremendous forum for our women clients and contacts to meet and share ideas. WNG programming is one example of the firm's commitment to enhance the opportunities for our women attorneys to partner with our clients to create meaningful, long term professional relationships while showcasing our top-notch legal skills and diverse perspectives.

WNG Activities

In-House Mentoring Program

WNG organizes regular in-house mentoring programs, with such topics as:

  • "SisterMentors Film luncheon – an opportunity to learn more about one of the non-profit organizations to whom Schiff provides office space"
  • "Short and Sweet – a steering committee meeting with dessert"
  • "Mix it up Speed Networking and Mentoring Luncheon"
  • "Shared Stories and Lessons Learned – a dialogue with our women partners"
  • "Summer Associate Networking Event"
  • "Successful Women Invest in Themselves"

WNG also holds informal luncheon and cocktail events aimed at helping our women attorneys share their experiences and support one another.

Networking Events
Additionally, WNG sponsors a series of seminars and networking events designed to serve the needs of the increasing number of women professionals among our client base, including women from the law departments and the business divisions of companies based in the Chicago area and Northern Indiana.

Topics addressed at our WNG events included:

  • "My Sister's Keeper – Debut Chicago Reception"
  • "Women Everywhere Agency Day"
  • "One of a Kind Networking Reception and Show"
  • "May Soiree"
  • "MoMA Event – Framework of an Artist"
  • "SCAD Seen Gala"
  • "Cocktails, Conversation and Dinner – an evening with James Carville and Mary Matalin celebrating diversity"
  • "Golf Outings for the Occasional Golfer with LPGA professional Stephanie Louden"

Our upcoming and past networking programs are listed under "News and Events" at left.

Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project, Inc.

Schiff Hardin is an active participant in the Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project, in which women attorneys from several law firms and minority bar organizations team up with community organizations on educational and community service projects to assist high school girls as well as women and children in need.

Women Everywhere traditionally plans two events each year. The Community Service Day allows male and female volunteers to give back to their community by volunteering their time to nearly 30 local service agencies dedicated to helping women and children in need. The Educational Program invites high schools girls from around the area to tour trial or appellate courts, while encouraging them to aspire to interesting and challenging careers. Additionally, they sponsor the "Women Everywhere College Scholarship" to provide financial assistance to two enthusiastic college-bound high school girls who want to make a difference.

Schiff Hardin Partner, Patricia C. Slovak served on the organization's Board of Directors.

For more information about this organization, visit their Web site: http://www.wechicago.org/.

National Recognition

Schiff Hardin has received the following national awards for its diversity and women attorney initiatives, as well as workplace quality of life:

  • Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women 2012 survey named Schiff Hardin one of 50 winners nationwide. The survey ranked firms based on factors including representation, flexibility, leadership, compensation, development and advancement of women, and leave policies.
  • American Lawyer’s 2012 survey of women attorneys ranked Schiff Hardin #9 out of 221 U.S. law firms based on its percentage of women equity partners.
  • Euromoney Legal Media Group’s Inaugural Americas Women in Business Law Awards program in 2012 named Schiff Hardin the “Best Law Firm in the Midwest.” The award honors law firms for “family-friendly work practices and women leading the field in the legal sector across the Americas.”
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association awarded us its 2012 Thomas L. Sager award for the Midwest Region, in honor of our diversity achievements.
  • Diversity Scholarship Foundation gave Schiff Hardin Partner Patricia Brown Holmes its 2011 Advocate for Diversity Award.
  • DiversityBusiness.com named us to its “Top Privately Held Businesses in Illinois” lists in 2011 and 2012 in recognition of our efforts in creating opportunities for minorities. (# 3 of 100 and # 27 of 500 in 2011 – how about 2012?)
  • Equality Illinois ranked us a leading law firm for LGBT workplace equality in 2011 and 2012.
  • The Human Rights Campaign Foundation awarded Schiff Hardin a 100% score on its 2011, 2012 and 2013 Corporate Equality Indexes based on our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace policies and benefits.
  • MultiCultural Law magazine ranked Schiff Hardin # 24 on its 2012 “Top 25 Law Firms for African-Americans List” and # 43 on its “Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity.”
  • Vault listed Schiff Hardin in its “Law Firm Rankings 2012: The Best Law 25 Firms For Diversity.”
  • Just the Beginning Foundation awarded us its inaugural Diversity Partnership Award in 2010 in recognition of our vital support for the foundation's mission and programs. We were one of two law firms to receive this inaugural award.

Other Related Organizations

Our attorneys are active in many other organizations that seek to promote greater diversity in the legal profession and opportunities for women.In 2011 and 2012, we also contributed to or sponsored events for the following professional legal organizations:

  • ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
  • ABA Commission on Racial & Ethnic Diversity in the Profession
  • Asian American Bar Association
  • Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF)
  • Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms
  • Cook County Bar Association
  • Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms
  • Corporate Counsel Women of Color
  • Gate City Bar Association
  • Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys
  • Hispanic National Bar Association
  • Indian American Bar Association of Chicago
  • Lesbian & Gay Bar Association of Chicago (LAGBAC)
  • LGBT Asian American / South Asian Lawyers
  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
  • National LGBT Bar Association
  • OUTLaw Northwestern University School of Law
  • Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Our Support for Organizations Fighting for Equal Rights
Schiff Hardin is also committed to organizations that work full-time – or more than full-time – to ensure that everyone has equal access to the opportunities that society offers. Some of these groups file lawsuits and lobby for legislation promoting equal rights. Others provide opportunities and support for diverse communities. In 2011 and 2012, we supported the following groups, among others:

  • Chicago Foundation for Women
  • Chicago Urban League
  • Constitutional Rights Foundation
  • Equal Rights Advocates
  • Equality Illinois
  • The Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • International Justice Mission
  • Lambda Legal
  • National Center for Lesbian Rights
  • The History Makers
  • Women Employed

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"50 Best Law Firms for Women"

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© 2013 Schiff Hardin LLP

Schiff Hardin LLP is a general practice law firm representing clients across the United States and around the world. We have offices located in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Lake Forest, New York, San Francisco and Washington. Our attorneys are strong advocates and trusted advisers — roles that contribute to many lasting client relationships.