OnRamp Fellowship Launches

My friend, fellow Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management and occasional collaborator, Caren Ulrich Stacy, has launched a new initiative - the OnRamp Fellowship - with the goal of increasing gender diversity in law firms.  The Fellowship is a re-entry platform that matches women lawyers returning to the profession with law firms for a one-year, paid training contract.  The program allows women an opportunity to demonstrate their value in the marketplace while broadening their experience, skills, and legal contacts. Law firms benefit by gaining access to a group of highly-talented, diverse lawyers who want to return to and advance in the profession, particularly into leadership roles.

"These women were highly sought after when they graduated from law school, and they should be again," says Caren Ulrich Stacy. "The first goal is just to bring more women back into the fold. The second goal is to find women who have the potential to advance." (AmLaw Daily "New Fellowship Aims to Restart Dormant Legal Careers."

In addition to the training provided by the law firms, additional contributors have donated their time and expertise to the Fellowship to provide individual coaching and training classes in areas such as business development, public speaking, management skills, negotiations and numerous other topics.  I am pleased to be participating in the initiative by offering training on pricing and project management, critical skills necessary for delivering client value.  The several dozen other contributors (here) represent a who's who of thought leadership in today's changing legal marketplace.

There are four law firms participating in the pilot program: Cooley, Baker Botts, Sidley, and Hogan Lovells.  Applications and interviews for the initial Fellowship are underway and selections will be made by March of this year, with a start date in May.  For more information, visit the OnRamp Fellowship site or view the American Lawyer article here.

Timothy B. Corcoran delivers keynote presentations and conducts workshops to help lawyers, in-house counsel and legal service providers profit in a time of great change.  To inquire about his services, contact him at +1.609.557.7311 or at tim@corcoranconsultinggroup.com.