Current Projects:
Events for first time women attendees at AIPLA meetings
- Contact new women AIPLA members to encourage attendance at the AIPLA stated meetings
- Invite women who are attending their first AIPLA meeting to a casual Happy Hour
- Plan a dinner for first time women attendees during the stated meetings, to allow opportunities to meet other first time attendees and to meet current leaders and members of the Women in IP Law Committee - the dinners result in increased participation from new members, and encourages friendships
Statistical Analysis of Membership and Economic Surveys
Previous Projects:
Scope of Project/Focus
There was a recent report recognizing that one factor standing in the way of the advancement of women attorneys is that women are reviewed based on higher standards than their male counterparts, in part because supervised attorneys, agents and staff give harsher upward reviews to “hard-driving” women partners than “hard-driving” male partners. (E.g., there is a “thick pink line”) Another way to view this is that women attorneys must tread a tightrope with respect to being perceived as assertive without being perceived as abrasive. We are studying the report and will contact the authors to obtain additional information on how we might study this further among AIPLA women members (for instance by drafting a member survey).
Deliverables/Outcomes/Actions by Annual Meeting 2015
- Provide a synopsis of the report and a list of resources addressing the topic.
- Determine whether it is feasible to take a survey to further study the factors that contribute to the “thick pink line”.
- If we do take a survey, we can determine the factors that lead to this type of bias and how to avoid it.
- article on “aggressive” vs. “abrasive?”
- article on women’s use of body language?
Members
Vickie Norton
Suzannah Sundby
Scope of Project/Focus
To first understand where we can make the greatest impact on the participation of women in AIPLA, we are conducting a historical analysis of the number of women who are chairs and vice chairs of AIPLA committees, and are members of the board of directors. We are also conducting an analysis of women participants in the association generally and at the stated meetings.
Deliverables/Outcomes/Actions by Annual Meeting 2015
- Present statistical analysis to date at the mid-winter, spring and annual meetings to educate members.
- Prior statistical analysis shared by Lisa Jorgenson with the USPTO on June 18th.
- Latest data was updated with both Spring and Annual Meetings. Christine Genge presented at Annual Meeting Women in IP Breakfast.
- Longer term, hope to have “white paper” to present to the Board.
Members
Christine Genge,
Meg Boulware,
Cary Jordan
Scope of Project/Focus
In order to build a future of strong female leaders in patent law, we must start our level of engagement very early in the pipeline. Statistics show that girls tend to not be aware of careers in intellectual property law, or tend to drop their interests in science and engineering. We are looking for opportunities at different universities to reach out and help “build the pipeline” for future intellectual property attorneys.
Deliverables/Outcomes/Actions by Annual Meeting 2015
- Clemson University’s Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) program is hosting a professional development webinar series. This series is meant to fight against stereotypes against professional women in an easily accessible and constructive manner. This series is graciously sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Pantene, and Clemson University.
- During each webinar, three to five guest speakers will host a panel discussion centered on each individual webinar topic. Patent Law has been one of the topics.
- (develop kits? For our members to use with their own alma matters?)
- (insert “pay it forward” program: input to be provided by Cary)
- Potential candidates: UCLA Law School, University of Minnesota.
- Cary’s slides/toolkit to be put on Women in IP Microsite.
Members
Meg Boulware
Vickie Norton
Cary Jordan
Laura Bozek
Scope of Project/Focus
A large amount of information is available from the Economic Surveys, which have been available for many years, and from the Membership Surveys, which now include gender based questions. However, no one to date has analyzed the answers to provide a statistical analysis on how our AIPLA members are doing.
Deliverables/Outcomes/Actions by Annual Meeting 2015
- Present statistical analysis to date at the annual meeting. Identify major gaps between women and men.
- Prior statistical analysis shared by Lisa Jorgenson with the USPTO on June 18th.
- Analysis is done up to 2012, but 2015 data needs to be added.
- Lacy Kolo volunteered her husband, a statistician, to do future work on this project.
Members
Meg Boulware
Eileen Mathews
Christine Genge
Cary Jordan
(volunteer statistician)
Scope of Project/Focus
Various companies and law firms have instituted programs and practices specifically focused on retaining and advancing women in the field of IP Law. However, some may have programs that are more for marketing purposes, rather than for implementing results and making real changes. We will create a forum where proven best practices will be shared with our Women in IP members.
Deliverables/Outcomes/Actions by Annual Meeting 2015
- Identify and review potential company and law firm candidates that have proven results for retaining and advancing women in IP law.
- Put together program proposal where at least 3-4 companies and firms will present their best practices and how these practices have made a difference in their environment.
- Gather information from various sources, such as Catalyst, to gather a list of best practices or articles for possible dissemination.
- Identify law firms recognized by reputable publications as best places for women to work, in terms of retention and advancement.
- Currently slotted for Annual Meeting Women in IP Breakfast 2016. - Think about asking Director Michelle Lee to join as speaker?
- Hoping to gather various articles on this topic and put on Women in IP Microsite to be available to members.
Members
Meg Boulware
Melissa Buss
Chen Wang
Scope of Project/Focus
Female members tend to drop out of AIPLA more frequently, possibly due to lack of engagement and family obligations. It is also difficult for some female members to make conferences due to work and family. We will create processes to get the women involved in AIPLA and show tie them into the network of other women members.
Deliverables/Outcomes/Actions by Annual Meeting 2015
- Identify other committees that may want to coordinate for local meet ups
- Put together a program proposal for receiving a monthly list of new members, and assigning the females to a volunteer. The program should also contain example processes of information the volunteer can pass along, and examples of how the volunteer can engage the new member.
- For each conference, receive in advance a list of the new members who are first attendees and volunteers reach out personally to invite to dinner or drinks.
- Gather information on how to put on a monthly call for new members to discuss AIPLA offerings, and other efforts.
- Very successful “reach out” to the new women members attending the Annual Meeting. Each first time attendee was reached out to by Lacy Kolo, Eileen Mathews, Jessica, or Melissa and invited to the Women in IP Breakfast. Lacy and Eileen set up coffees, a dinner, etc. to reach out and make these new members feel welcome and to make AIPLA more “sticky” for women members. Melissa also personally invited every women she met to come to the breakfast, regardless of whether or not they had a ticket. Result: we didn’t have enough chairs or tables, but the staff quickly got more. We asked that new members stand up and we gave them a round of applause. Great turn out!
- -Local meet ups? Holly sent email about possible meeting in UK.
Members
Nancy Mertzel
Lacy Kolo
Janet Fuhrer
Eileen Mathews
Holly Cowie