Lovells pilots female mentoring scheme
Lovells is piloting a female mentoring scheme that is aimed at bolstering partner and employee engagement at the firm.
Katherine Mulhern
The scheme will be run by the firm’s women’s network, which was launched last year.
Partner Katherine Mulhern, who co-chairs the firm’s women’s network, said the scheme would be open to all female employees in London.
“The mentor scheme was established by the women’s network, which is part of Lovells’ diversity initiative,” she added. “The impetus for mentoring came from the network members themselves.”
The firm has written to women asking them to volunteer to be mentors and the aim is to match them up with mentees by the end of the month. Mentors will be asked to share their experiences on how they have managed their career paths, particularly those who have taken a break from work.
Lovells has a strong history of promoting women and was the first top-10 firm to vote in a female managing partner, Lesley MacDonagh.
Currently 25 per cent of London partners are female. According to Mulhern that number is increasing as younger female trainees move up through the firm’s ranks.
Last week Clifford Chance declared it was launching a drive to double the number of female partners at the firm.
“None of us are happy about the figure being around 15 per cent,” said Clifford Chance managing partner David Childs (The Lawyer, 28 September).
Readers' comments (2)
Paul | 3-Dec-2009 3:52 am
Perhaps it's time I became Paula. Imagine how quickly one could progress with the ability of a man and the favouritism afforded to women. Trouble is I hate dresses.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Kirsteen | 9-Feb-2010 4:14 pm
@Paul
If you wish to be paid on average 13-17% less than someone doing the exact same job as you, by all means become a woman.
The 'ability' of a man? I think your attitude says it all, and it is why such mentoring initiatives are needed - to offset the attitude you are displaying.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment