On the evening of June 14, 2011, Burns & Levinson, a Boston-based law firm, kicked off the Burns & Levinson Women’s Forum with a discussion featuring Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Fernande “Nan” Duffly. Justice Duffly initiated the program with comments about the recent efforts of the National Association of Women Judges and other groups to study the current status of women’s leadership in private firms and explore both the opportunities and barriers that exist.
Her comments sparked a lively and candid discussion among the invited attendees – senior women attorneys from large and small firms alike.
The June forum was the kick-off to what Burns & Levinson anticipates will be quarterly events around topics of interest, from women’s advancement in the profession to issues of social policy and the media, to senior women in practice. Each event will feature a presentation or roundtable discussion facilitated by women in positions of leadership in the law, politics, business or academic life.
The next event is scheduled for September 13, 2011 at 6 pm; then retired Federal Judge Nancy Gertner will open the next forum with comments about gender dynamics in the courtroom. This will mark her first local appearance after retiring from the bench.
This event is invitation-only, but inquiries on being added to the invitation list are welcome.
Laura R. Studen, co-chair of Burns & Levinson’s Business Litigation Department, commented: “Women partners at our firm got together to talk about our experiences and our hopes for the future of our profession. We decided to broaden our discussions and invite other senior women in Boston’s legal community to the table.” She noted that “the women partners at Burns & Levinson look forward to a continuing conversation with leaders who will spark interesting discussion around issues that are important to us as attorneys and as women.”
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