Women In Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF)

As National Chair of WILEF, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) web site. Now in its sixth year, we continue to build out WILEF as the premier organization for women in law exclusively dedicated to women from

the largest law firms and corporate law departments in the United States. The importance of helping women in law achieve their career goals cannot be minimized. In today's environment law firms are focused on retaining existing clients and developing new business. Part of the equation involves fostering the retention and promotion of women.

The WILEF Gold Standard Certification initiative which we launched in April of last year has clearly become the centerpiece of our continued commitment to being the change agent for women in law firms to rise within the firm as business developers and leaders. We are so proud of the firms that have certified and we look forward to other firms achieving this status.

Currently WILEF presents cutting edge programming in four markets--WILEF East (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut), WILEF West (San Francisco and Palo Alto), WILEF DC (Washington D.C. and its surrounding area) and WILEF Chicago (Chicago and its surrounding area).

Working with me on all programming and initiatives is my National Vice Chair and WILEF Co-Founder, Peggy Cohen. WILEF leadership is comprised of eight outstanding co-chairs: WILEF East is co-chaired by Melique Jones and Janet Markoff. Ida Abbott and Natasha Innocenti co-chair WIILEF West. Ellen Ostrow and Gwen Nugent co-chair WILEF D.C. and Theresa A. Jaffe and Lisa Snow co-chair WILEF Chicago. We have three wonderful Executive Directors: Ellen Auwarter covers WILEF East, Tammy Dawson covers WILEF West and Silvana Del Carpio covers WILEF DC.

Enjoy your visit to our web site. If you have any questions, please send them to me via our contact page.

--Elizabeth Anne “Betiayn” Tursi, National Chair, WILEF

MISSION STATEMENT

Our vision is to create a dialogue for the purpose of educating women in law firms on how to become leaders in the workplace and in the community by building, exercising and implementing a strong sense of empowerment.

We will "start the conversation" on the topics that are top of mind to all women in law firms today. We will lead by example as change agents. Our goal is to achieve results that will foster the adoption of new policies and practices to advance women in law firms.

WHAT'S NEW AT WILEF

WILEF Gold Standard Certification Award
During the week of February 12, 2012, heads of Diversity Departments, Women’s Initiatives and Professional Development Departments will receive an email advising them that the 2012 certification application will become available upon request by sending an email to WILEF’s National Chair, Elizabeth Anne “Betiayn” Tursi at elizabethtursi@aol.com. To be included among those firms being honored at the WILEF Gold Standard Certification Awards Luncheon in September, applications must be received by Friday, August 3, 2012.

Read more at our CERTIFICATION page.

Our upcoming Spring programming is featured on our Programs page. We invite you to take a look at the array of topics that will be covered and the fabulous speakers that will address these topics.