MWL Leadership Award

The deadline for 2010 award submissions is Friday, April 16th, 2010 by 4:30 p.m.

In 1992, Minnesota Women Lawyers established its Leadership Award to recognize legal employers throughout the state that strive to enhance the status, influence and effectiveness of women lawyers in their employ.  Since it's inception, the Leadership Award has been presented at the MWL Annual Meeting.  MWL will also accept nominations for specific projects or initiatives, designed and implemented with the specific intent of securing the full and equal participation of women in the legal profession. 

As in the past, all legal employers are eligible, whether large firm or small, government agency or corporate legal department, in the Twin Cities or in greater Minnesota.    

Nominations are accepted from past recipients of the MWL Leadership Award.  A follow-up nomination from a past award recipient must highlight a project, initiative, etc. that is significantly new and/or different from the initial nomination for which the award was originally presented.  If possible, the new nomination should include a copy of the initial nomination that resulted in the Leadership Award being presented to the recipient.

Past Award Recipients

In maintaining a tradition of excellence, the Leadership Award will only be presented legal employers, projects or initiatives which demonstrate significant strides in the advancement of women attorneys.  Therefore, if the award selection committee determines that no submissions meet the criteria in a given year, the award may not be presented that year at the Annual Meeting.  Similarly, if the selection committee determines that more than one legal employer, initiative or project meets the criteria, the Leadership Award may be given to more than one recipient in any given year.    

Submissions must include:

1. A letter of nomination on behalf of a legal employer and any relevant documentation or materials;
2. A description of the objective projects, initiatives, policies or plans designed and implemented to secure the full and equal participation of women in the legal profession;
3. Three references in the legal community, with a preference of at least one from outside the legal employer being considered for the award.

The Award Selection Committee will also consider the following:

1. Recruitment and hiring of women:  Does the employer recruit and hire women at all levels of the organization?
2. Retention and support of women:  Is the work place supportive of women?  Does it encourage their professional development?  Does it offer flexibility in work schedules, in balancing work and family, and in career paths?
3. Women in leadership positions:  Have women been recruited for and promoted to management positions?  Are there mentoring programs or other means to facilitate advancement of women?
4. Innovation:  Has the employer used innovations in the work place, or otherwise been on the “cutting edge” of policies and practices that have benefited women employees?

(Nominations will be considered by an Award Selection Committee appointed by the MWL Board President.  In the event there are no award nominations or if consensus on an award recipient cannot be reached, the Award Selection Committee will turn to the MWL Executive Committee for further direction).  

Nominations should be sent to Minnesota Women Lawyers; 600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 390B; Minneapolis, MN 55402.   The Award will be presented at MWL’s 38th Annual Meeting to be held on May 12, 2010 at Windows on Minnesota, IDS Tower in Minneapolis (11:45 a.m. registration; 12:00 noon luncheon and program).  Call the MWL office at 612/338-3205 with any questions. 

The deadline for 2010 award submissions is Friday, April 16th, 2010 by 4:30 p.m.

Back to MWL Awards main page

HOME

Send mail to webmaster@mwlawyers.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Copyright © 2001 Minnesota Women Lawyers, Inc.

Technology solutions provided by lightoffice technology.