CLE: Using Grit and Growth Mindset to Advance Women in the Law
Back by Popular Demand!
The Grit Project
Using Grit and Growth Mindset to Advance Women in the Law
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Presented by
Southern Nevada Association of Women Attorneys and the
William S. Boyd School of Law
Organization of Women Law Students
Beverly Rogers Literature & Law Building (RLL)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
1.5 hours of CLE Credit
This program is free of charge.
Overview
A recent study of women lawyers in AmLaw 200 firms showed a strong, statistically significant relationship between grit and success for women in BigLaw. Digging deeper, the data suggests that grit is a precursor to success rather than an outcome of it. The research also found that many successful women lawyers display growth mindset characteristics and rely heavily on it to navigate challenging workplace situations such as their responses to negative feedback and the sometimes overwhelming pace and volume of the work itself. The most exciting news about grit and mindset is that most experts agree that these traits can be learned and developed given the right conditions. The first step is educating women lawyers about these traits, and other traits within their control, that can lead to success.
This program identifies two of the characteristics--grit and growth mindset--that many successful women attorneys have in common, often above other measures such as IQ, class rank, or law school. This program will educate participants about the science behind these traits, provide attendees with tools to assess their levels of grit and growth mindset, and offer practical ways to incorporate these concepts in law school career development, attorney performance evaluations, and professional development programs. In addition, grit and growth mindset will be directly applied to situations women attorneys find themselves in while practicing law such as arguing a deposition, making a pitch, seeking a motion, and handling a heavy workload. Ultimately, woman can leverage these traits to enhance their effectiveness, to ensure competence, to improve communication between attorney and client, and to advocate zealously on behalf of the client.
Presenter
Layke Martin is the Assistant Dean for External Relations at the William S. Boyd School of Law, where she oversees the law school’s career development, alumni relations, event, communications, and advancement departments. Layke is a native Nevadan and a graduate of UNLV. After attending law school at Boston University, she practiced for nearly five years as an associate with the Las Vegas law firm Marquis Aurbach Coffing. She joined the William S. Boyd School of Law in 2009 as an Adjunct Professor teaching an advanced legal writing course in pre-trial litigation. She joined the law school full-time as the Director of Career Development in 2011, where she discovered a passion for teaching skills including interviewing, networking, negotiation, and career planning to law students and graduates. The students voted her Staff of the Year in 2013.
Layke has presented at national conferences on topics related to legal career planning and advancing women in the legal profession. Layke served on the Board of the National Association for Law Placement from 2015-2017 and was the 2015-2016 Chair of the Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Nevada. The State Bar awarded her Young Lawyer of the Year in 2015. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Canyon Springs High School Law and Leadership Program. Layke previously served on the Board of Junior League of Las Vegas, and she is a longtime volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. She received Vegas Inc.’s “40 Under 40” Award in 2016. Layke is a mom to a four-year-old daughter and ten-month-old twin boys.
Agenda
5:00-5:30 Lite dinner
5:30-5:35 Welcome and Introductions
5:35-6:05 Presentation on grit and mindset research
6:05-6:35 Presentation of Scenario 1: Surprised When Not Given Challenging Clinic Case
a. Play Scenario 1 (6:05-6:10)
b. Among small groups, talk about discussion questions. (6:10 - 6:20)
c. Report out on small group discussions to larger group; panelists/facilitators weigh-in with their experiences and
advice. (6:20-6:35)
6:35-7:00 Presentation of Scenario 2: Heavily Marked Up Brief
a. Play Scenario 2 (6:35-6:40)
b. Among small groups, talk about discussion questions. (6:40-6:50)
c. Report out on small group discussions to larger group; panelists/facilitators weigh-in with their experiences and
advice. (6:50-7:00)
7:00-7:05 Closing Remarks