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.

“Bass, Berry & Sims recognizes that ‘one size does not fit all’ when it comes to dedicated attorneys. As the mother of three small children, I appreciate the alternative attorney track that the firm offers. I have a very productive legal practice, but I also enjoy quality time with my family. My flexible schedule allows me to spend time in the afternoons with my children, and then I work from home at night after the kids are in bed. This positive working environment and the other working mothers at the firm who serve as my mentors have helped me find the perfect work/life balance I had been looking for.” - Stephanie Maxwell, Staff Attorney