Attendees, including current and past mentors, mentees, and support committee members, at the AWW Cohort 3 launch event in Johannesburg, June 13, 2024. Photo credit: Dr. Kim Lamont-Mbawuli/AWW The new cohort kicked off with tailored onboarding events for the three key groups of participants: mentees, mentors, and members of the mentor support committee, which offers guidance and insight to mentors. Mentees: A virtual onboarding session for the new group of mentees on May 27 began with opening remarks by Judge Nokuthula Daniso of the High Court of South Africa, who emphasized the importance of mentorship in shaping one’s career... read more
Post tagged in "AWW"
Advancing Women in the Workplace Mentorship Program Launches 3rd Cohort in South Africa
Posted on June 21, 2024
Vance Center and IAWL Co-Host International Women’s Day Program
Posted on March 14, 2024On March 8, International Women’s Day, the Vance Center and IAWL hosted a virtual professional development program entitled “Count Her In: Gender Equality in the Workplace.” Lorraine McGowen, the Vance Center’s executive committee co-chair and partner at Orrick, provided opening remarks. In her introduction, McGowen outlined the Vance Center’s more than two decades of work on inclusion and diversity on the African continent, beginning with the creation of the African Legal Fellows Program more than 20 years ago, and expanding into new initiatives like a mentorship program for young Black women lawyers in South Africa, a pro bono clearinghouse in... read more
AWW Legal Forum Celebrates Mentorship Program, Launches Groundbreaking Survey and South African WIP Chapter
Posted on March 18, 2024AWW mentors, mentees, organizers and supporters at the AWW Legal Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 1, 2024. Photo credit: Gabriel Thomas/SP Events and Tech On March 1, the Vance Center and its South African Legal Fellows Network, through its Advancing Women in the Workplace (AWW) program, in collaboration with the United States Mission to South Africa, hosted an afternoon full of celebration and firsts. Dozens of mentors, mentees, law firm partners, judges, academics, and other supporters gathered at the Sandton offices of law firm Baker McKenzie for the Advancing Women in the Workplace Legal Forum, which featured a presentation... read more
AWW Mentorship Program Joins Global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
Posted on December 12, 2023AWW mentors at a networking event in Johannesburg, November 28, 2023. Photo credit: ENSafrica The annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign begins on November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs through December 10, Human Rights Day. Inspired by the 2023 theme of the parallel UN campaign, “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls,” AWW participants joined in activities geared towards ending violence against women and strengthening interest in social justice among their network of legal practitioners in South Africa. Advancing Women in the Workplace is a two-year program, now... read more
Vance Center Secures New Funding for Regional and Global Work
Posted on November 15, 2023The National Endowment for Democracy has renewed its support for the Vance Center’s ongoing work on judicial independence in Central America and the Caribbean for two more years. NED’s commitment enables the Vance Center to deepen the impact of its initiatives to address and raise awareness around issues and threats affecting judges, within specific countries and at the regional level. These efforts build on more than a decade of Vance Center work to support judges in combating corruption and protecting themselves and their colleagues from threats to their independence and integrity. This work is possible through collaboration with key... read more
Women’s Month in South Africa: Breaking Barriers for Women in Conveyancing and Legal Tech
Posted on September 29, 2023Moderator Naomi Thompson and AWW Project Consultant Dr. Kim Lamont-Mbawuli listen to other speakers at “Tech-Driven Legal Transformation: Paving the Way for Women in Legal Leadership,” August 31, 2023. Photo: Neo Mdakaj Both programs explored barriers, challenges, and opportunities for women in specialized areas of law that have historically offered little space for women’s advancement or leadership. Advancing Women in the Workplace (AWW) is a two-year program, now in its second year, that aims to support women of color in accessing leadership roles within the legal profession through mentorship, professional development opportunities, and other tools. On August 23, AWW held... read more