The WLA’s board oversees numerous committees and two special initiative teams, that help plan and execute the organization’s programing. Each WLA general body member is placed on a committee of her choosing, and contributes to the planning of the WLA’s events (nearly 200 each year!).
Committees
Academics Committee
The Academics Committee addresses various aspects of academic life at HLS, providing tips on choosing classes, attending office hours, and taking exams. The Committee also organizes small group chats for those interested in careers in academia and hosts information sessions on applying to the Harvard Law Review (HLR), the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (HLAB), and the Board of Student Advisors (BSA) program. To better informally advise new students, the Committee will solicit advice from 2Ls and 3Ls that will be circulated to WLA members at the beginning of each month through the WLA newsletter.
Alumni & Mentorship Committee
The Alumni & Mentorship Committee works to create unique opportunities for WLA members to build meaningful relationships with each other and with alumnae working in all types of practice areas and industries. The Committee is primarily focused on organizing smaller, informal events that allow WLA members to find mentors on campus and within the WLA alumnae network. The Committee also helps support the Faculty Mentorship Dinner held each year.
Domestic Policy Committee
The Domestic Policy Committee creates events that facilitate the discussion of local, state, and national policy affecting women at HLS and beyond. The Committee hosts panels that draw the HLS community together to discuss many important issues relating to gender equity and women’s rights and hosts “Running to Win” each spring to provide female students and women in the community with practical tools for running for public office. The Committee is also responsible for holding an annual State of the Union of Women, to highlight the status of women across different intersectional issue areas.
Clerkships Committee
The Clerkships Committee works to support members who hope to clerk post-graduation. This includes a combination of resources, network connections, and events.
Firms & Fundraising Committee
The Firms & Fundraising Committee is responsible for securing the majority of WLA’s sponsorships from sources beyond HLS. This Committee fosters the WLA’s ongoing relationships with large, national firms and affords excellent opportunities for students to network with female attorneys at various law firms. In addition to sponsorships, the Committee organizes events for HLS women interested in working at large firms. These include panels with firm representatives for students to learn about life at law firms, small group dinners where students can closely interact with lawyers, and a “Firm Mixer” during the spring semester for WLA members and the WLA’s firm sponsors. The Firms & Fundraising Committee will also organize lunches and dinners with firms and host Q&A sessions for 1L WLA members to learn from firm representatives.
Incoming Students Committee
The Incoming Students Committee is in charge of helping 1Ls, LLMs, and transfer students build community at HLS and within the WLA. The Committee administers the “WLA Big-Little Program,” which matches incoming students (“Little Sisters”) with 2L or 3L mentors (“Big Sisters”). During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Committee will also organize members into “WLA Families.” The Committee also plans various social events throughout the year to foster a sense of community within the WLA. In addition, the Committee works with the HLS Office of Admissions to reach out to admitted students, answer any questions they may have, and meet with them when they visit during Admitted Students Weekend.
International Committee
The International Policy Committee works to build awareness of international women’s issues among the HLS community, provides women at HLS who are interested in international law with opportunities to pursue those interests, and collaborates with international students on campus. The International Committee’s main event is the International Women’s Day celebration in the spring which honors 25 outstanding women working in international and human rights law and activism. The celebration includes a photo exhibit on the HLS campus highlighting the honorees and their work. It also features a day-long conference with a keynote speaker, reception, and breakout coffee chats with all the honorees on campus for the event. For more info on all prior years’ honorees, see our International Women’s Day website here.
Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee collaborates with other affinity groups and student organizations on campus to promote intersectionality in WLA’s programming, effectively managing the WLA’s external presence. The Committee participates in the Affinity Group Coalition (AGC) and organizes small group lunches and dinners with other affinity groups for incoming 1Ls, transfers, and LLMs. This year, the Outreach Committee will also appoint Affinity Group Liaisons to support channels of communication between the WLA and groups. The WLA President and the Affinity Group Liaisons will attend the general body meetings of affinity groups, with their consent, to advocate and promote the WLA. The coordination for these meetings will be spearheaded by the Outreach Committee.
Mental Health Committee
The Mental Health Committee is responsible for providing resources related to mental wellness and supporting the mental health of students at HLS. The Committee will create guides for students seeking mental health support through the university and direct them to resources for finding support outside Harvard. The Mental Health Committee will also host events including weekly study breaks, talks with experts, and yoga and meditation classes. Lastly, the Committee will hold space as needed for students to navigate new and ongoing frustrations that affect the community as a whole.
Public Interest Committee
The Public Interest Committee organizes events and provides resources for WLA members interested in pursuing public interest jobs. The Committee connects public interest-minded women at HLS with each other and disseminates information on how to pursue various public interest jobs. The Public Interest Committee works closely with the Office of Public Interest Advising (OPIA) to provide resources and inform WLA members about the Public Interest Interview Program (PIIP). The Public Interest Committee also handles all the WLA’s private public interest firm sponsorships. This academic year, the Committee will host a public interest job search panel for 1Ls, organize “It’s Ok Not to Do EIP” in collaboration with OPIA, and host coffee chats between paired 1L, 2L, and 3L WLA members who plan to pursue public interest careers.
Shatter the Ceiling Committee
The Shatter the Ceiling Committee challenges gender disparities at HLS and in the broader legal community. Through its advocacy and writing, the Committee seeks to promote gender parity in the classroom and beyond. The Shatter the Ceiling Committee also hosts the annual “Shatter the Ceiling Awards,” which recognize faculty, staff, and alumnae for excellence in promoting racial and gender equity. During the 2021-2022 academic year, the Committee will host a dinner to connect WLA members with faculty members and will host intersectional programming related to issues of gender equity. The “Shatter the Ceiling Awards” in the spring semester will recognize staff, professors, and alums who have made major contributions to increasing gender and racial parity. The Committee will also author our annual Parity Report, analyzing gender parity in the Harvard Law Review, Board of Student Advisors, Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, and awarding of Latin Honors.
Social Committee
The Social Committee plans and organizes social activities for WLA members, creating opportunities for WLA members to engage with each other in a fun, relaxed environment. The Social Committee hosts the WLA’s highlight social events of the year, such as the “Feminist Formal” and “Study Break Brunches.” The Committee has exciting plans for the 2021-2022 year, including a social event for new members and a Halloween-themed pottery painting event. The Social Committee is also available to help connect members who want to host social events on their own, like wine nights or exercise classes.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee plans and organizes events to ensure that WLA membership remains engaged with the organization throughout the year.
Student Resources Committee
The Student Resources Committee is dedicated to helping WLA members navigate the complexities of student life at HLS. This committee aims to provide WLA members with guidance on various resources available to HLS students. These guides include breaking down various free services available to students, understanding terms of student employment, and demystifying student finances. The Committee will also host information sessions concerning the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), a required pre-bar examination in most jurisdictions. We are also partnering with Barbri to provide state bar information sessions from the most popular jurisdictions during Fall 2021.
Venture Committee
The Venture Committee provides funding and logistical support, including assistance with marketing and publicizing, to HLS women and other student organizations to empower them to host events featuring female leaders and discuss issues involving gender equity. The Venture Committee partners with affinity groups and smaller student organizations to cosponsor events with diverse topics that appeal to a cross-section of students. The Venture Committee offers HLS women and students in other affinity groups unique opportunities to build their networks and interact with role models.
Volunteer Committee
The Volunteer Committee hosts various volunteer activities and donation-based efforts throughout the year for the WLA board and members. These events include charity walks and runs, pro bono trips, volunteer opportunities at local shelters, clothing drives, and more. The main focus of the Committee during the 2021-2022 academic year will be a partnership with the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.
Women in Washington Committee
The Women in Washington Committee organizes the annual WLA trip to Washington, D.C. during the spring semester. Over the course of the two-day trip, participants network with and learn from leaders in government, public interest organizations, and law firms. In 2021, while the trip was held virtually due to the pandemic, it included meetings with Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, Fatima Goss Graves (President of the National Women’s Law Center), Judge Patricia Millett of the D.C. Circuit, and many other phenomenal women. The event concluded with a law firm reception attended by women associates and partners from 8 D.C. firms. The Chairs of this Committee will have a guaranteed spot on the trip. For the 2021-2022 academic year, the Committee hopes to provide an equally exciting and engaging lineup of inspiring women.
Women’s History Month Committee
The Women’s History Month Committee designs and builds programming to celebrate Women’s History during the month of March.
Coalitions
Queer Women’s Coalition (QWC)
The Queer Women’s Coalition will serve as a safe space for queer and trans identifying members of the WLA. The membership of the QWC is kept private to ensure the safety of its participants. The coalition will host wellness, social, and restorative spaces for members of the coalition. The QWC will also work closely with Lambda and other related affinity groups to collaborate on events and advocacy goals.
Women of Color Coalition (WoCC)
The Women of Color Coalition is a space reserved for members who identify as people of color. The Coalition aims to foster a community in which members can be honest about their experiences at HLS—an institution founded on the labor of people of color, specifically Black people. In response to the unique pressures faced by people of color, the Coalition will also host creative, restorative events through activities such as painting, jewelry-making, and writing.