To Those Interested in Achieving Social Justice:

You are invited by the Equality Commission to a briefing on a groundbreaking report, “Women Lawyers and Obstacles to Leadership.”  

Based upon a survey conducted by the MIT Workplace Center, the report tracks the career paths of nearly 1000 women and men in Massachusetts law firms, revealing inadequate firm responses to complex family factors affecting women far more than men—and resulting in a large scale and continuous exodus of women from firm practice. At the same time, it dispels the myth that women are “opting out”—that is, leaving law firms to stay at home—by tracing their departures to workplace destinations that recognize family needs.

The briefing will take place on May 2, 2007, at 4 p.m. in the Jury Room of the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston, followed by a reception. 

• The Honorable Nancy Gertner (USDC) will describe the goals of the Equality Commission. 

• The authors of the report from the MIT Workplace Center will present an overview of its  findings. 

• Lauren Stiller Rikleen, author of Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women’s Success in the Law, will discuss how to address the problems cited in the Report. 

Learn how this important study raises stark questions about equality in the justice system. If women leave law firms early in their careers, the profession becomes less diverse, and women’s voices will be less present, not only in the firms but in the courts, on the bench, on law faculties, and in leadership of the important institutions of the city and the state.

Each attendee will receive a copy of the Report and information about the Equality Commission and its future activities. If you have any questions, please contact Pamela Berman at: pberman@apslaw.com.

NOTE: All attendees will need 2 forms of identification to enter the Courthouse. Members of the press or anyone who intends to bring electronic devices into the press conference, must advise us in advance, so that we can arrange for appropriate security clearance. To do so please contact Kim Tavares, Event Coordinator at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse at: tavaresk@urbanretail.com or 617-261-2440 x 233.