Law Students

Yes We Can: Marianne Short and Profound Change at Dorsey & Whitney

By jessie

Just came across A Conversation with Marianne Short, Managing Partner of Dorsey & Whitney over at Adam Smith Esq. The site reached out to Marianne when Dorsey was named to Working Mother Magazine's Best Law Firms for Women 2007, because the firm was the only AmLaw 100 member on the list that was managed by a woman.

There's a lot of great stuff here, including decades-old policies and programs at Dorsey designed to retain and promote women. But in recent years something entirely different has been going on:

• Five years ago, in 2002, 28% of the 5th through 7th year associates were women.
• Today, in 2007, the percentage of the 5th through 7th year associates who are women is 50%.

Pretty amazing. Testament that change can be very very near if we only know when and how - and are willing - to push the right buttons.

I'm thrilled for Marianne and Dorsey that they've been able to effect such profound progress, and I look forward to hearing more from Marianne at Avenues to Advancement in November.

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Full post as published by Ms. JD on July 30, 2009 (boomark / email).