The Women's Initiative



In large part due to the activities of its Women's Initiative, Bass, Berry & Sims was chosen as one of the 50 Best Law Firms for Women in 2008 and 2009 by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers. For more on this recognition, click here.

The Women's Initiative consists of all of the female attorneys in our firm. The Women's Initiative strives to promote collegiality and networking among our women attorneys in the firm, educate associates on the structure of our firm, support and encourage women in leadership positions in our firm, and share knowledge and experiences on balancing work and family. We believe that all of these activities improve the retention and recruitment of female attorneys, which contributes to the success of the firm as a whole. The Women's Initiative meets monthly, typically over lunch, and often hosts guest speakers who address various topics relating to its members' careers and personal lives. Each year, the group honors the women promoted to partnership, hosts a party to celebrate the holidays, and sponsors a family fun event for the families of all of the attorneys in the firm. In order to promote interaction on a more informal and personal level, the Women's Initiative sponsors small groups consisting of 12 to 13 female attorneys from different practice areas and with different levels of experience. The small groups meet on a quarterly basis and participate in activities that are of interest to the particular group. In 2008, the Women's Initiative conducted a weekend retreat wherein the female attorneys from all three offices came together to network and learn about strategies for career advancement.

Click here for examples of the group’s activities and accomplishments.

"The fact that Bass, Berry & Sims made me partner the year after having my first child is testament to the firm's commitment to retaining and promoting women lawyers. While having two small children and a full time legal career is more challenging than I ever could have imagined, I am grateful for complex and interesting legal work in an environment that recognizes that family demands sometimes must take precedent. Bass, Berry & Sims provides a support network of peers and services that assist in times where career and family collide to help in achieving the difficult dance between professional and family life. Furthermore, the firm is continually striving to develop new ways to make this "balance" possible for both male and female attorneys. " - Andie McKellar, Member