And we’re off! WLA has already hosted lots of events this year — and we’re just getting started. In addition to already successful welcome activities for our 1Ls, our committees are kicking off events for the entire HLS community this week. I made it to one such event tonight where I had the chance to get insight from a successful woman legislator, spend quality time with fellow WLAers, and get a free meal. A successful evening, I’d say!

State Representative Ruth Balser was the first guest for WLA’s new event format, Success Day-to-Day. WLA board member Laura Wolf, who organized tonight’s dinner, told the group that the goal of the new format was for members to interact with women leaders in smaller, more intimate settings — ones where we could ask questions about day-to-day work and get details about navigating different career paths. Rep. Balser, who serves the 12th Middlesex District, graciously took time out of her schedule to tell us why she decided to get involved in public service and what the challenges and rewards of her work include. We had lots of questions — about women in politics, social justice issues, and the behind-the-scenes parts of legislating. Fortunately, Rep. Balser had plenty of answers. Having held her current office for 13 years, she has led the way for change regarding mental health issues, protecting the environment, and promoting equal rights. Most rewarding, Rep. Balser said, is knowing that her work in the legislature has allowed her to play a direct role in improving her local community.

Tonight’s event was absolutely worth taking time away from homework to think about one of the many paths possible after law school. I’m already a big fan of the new Success Day-to-Day format, and I can’t wait for the next one.

On a totally unrelated note, WLA is thrilled that our Big Sister/Little Sister mentoring program for 1Ls is taking off this year. But as more 1Ls sign on, we’re on the search for some welcoming 2Ls and 3Ls interested in getting to know the newest women members of the HLS community. Email us at wla@mail.law.harvard.edu to sign up today!

–Emily Wales, New Media Chair

This summer the WLA Alumni Committee hosted events and programs in three different cities: DC, New York, and Chicago. In NY, Esther Lim (’13) organized a mixer in August which was both cozy and fun. Some current students attended along with HLS alumnae living and working in the city. All of women stayed for the entire event, with some remaining past the end, talking about their idiosyncratic classmates, successes, and hurdles in the law profession, as well as the difference in HLS culture then and now. The attendees expressed that Harvard Law community in New York wants and needs more opportunities to connect. Hopefully WLA can start that movement for a better network and closer community!

In Chicago, Laura Wolf (’13) planned a mixer alongside Stacey Austin (’04), the head organizer of the Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance of Chicago. In late July, a group of about ten HLS alumnae sprinkled with a couple of current students met for a post-work cocktail and appetizers at Las Palmas in Wicker Park. The women enjoyed reminiscing about their times at HLS and talking about where their career paths have led them over the years. Many of the women had hailed from big law firm life back in the day, but had moved on to smaller boutique firms or different career paths entirely.
For current students, it was great to see what had influenced their decisions in those moves. It was also wonderful getting to hear how much (and how little) HLS has changed over the years.

The WLA is excited for summer mixers, like the ones in NY and Chicago, to become an annual tradition, where current students can meet alumnae to learn more about the roots of the school, and also to hear about the experiences HLS women have faced in the working world. It has definitely helped all of us realize that there will always be a contingency of HLS women around to support each other as we progress in our careers and lives.

Misty Wright (’13) spent her summer in DC, where she formed the DC Mentorship Program for HLS Women.  With the help of the HLSA Alumnae Network of DC, over 30 HLS students summering in DC were paired with amazing women mentors – partners at law firms, clerks on the Supreme Court, public interest leaders, you name it – based on academic, career, and personal interests.  We are so excited by the success of the program’s inaugural summer and can’t wait to build upon this foundation for next year’s program!

– Laura Wolf, Esther Lim, and Misty Wright, Alumni Outreach Committee Chairs