Covington & Burling LLP | Diversity

The Women’s Forum is a firm wide initiative designed to foster greater interaction among women lawyers at all levels of the firm. Through regularly scheduled programs and initiatives, the Women’s Forum provides more opportunity for our women lawyers to network with each other and address issues of common interest, such as career growth, mentoring, and business and professional development. The Women’s Forum is organized on an office-by-office basis, with coordination among the offices.

Examples of Programs and Initiatives

Professional and Business Development Programs. The Women’s Forum has sponsored programs for our women lawyers featuring outside experts on various topics, such as oral advocacy skills for women and building and maintaining client relationships.
Client Presentations. Our Women’s Forum has invited women clients to the firm, including Katherine Lauderdale (General Counsel of PBS), Linda Vilardo (Vice President and General Counsel of Radio One, Inc). and Randy Segal (General Counsel of Mobile Satellite Ventures) to share their thought on strategies for managing client relationships.
Women’s Forum Pro Bono and Public Service Initiative. Through the Women’s Forum, we have provided more opportunity for women associates to work with women partners on pro bono matters for organizations such as the Tahirah Legal Justice Center and the Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program at the Georgetown University Law Center. Also through the Women’s Forum, some of our women attorneys have participated in a DC Habitat for Humanity Women’s Capital Build Project.
Bar Association Events. The Women’s Forum participates in bar association and professional events. For example, we were a major sponsor and participant in the recent DC Women’s Bar Association initiative focusing on issues impacting the recruitment and retention of women in the legal profession.
Internal Discussions. Through our regular meetings and small group discussions, women lawyers at all levels of the firm engage in discussions about their career paths and challenges, mentoring experiences, and business and professional development strategies and opportunities.
Social Events. The Women’s Forum in each office hosts periodic dinners for women lawyers.
Work-Life Balance. Many women lawyers also participate in the firm’s Work-Life Balance group, which provides opportunity for all interested attorneys -- both men and women -- to discuss issues relating to balancing work obligations with other commitments, including family.

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