Ladder Down San Francisco 

Ladder Down is a year-long program that provides direct training and career development through a combination of coaches, sponsors, and participants to empower women lawyers in three critical areas: leadership, business development, and mentoring. Class size is limited to 24. See program schedule below.

The Ladder Down program is unique in both structure and content and includes monthly large group sessions dedicated to instruction in three key areas:  leadership, business development, and mentoring.  In addition to the monthly large group meetings, the participants meet with small accountability groups to report on their progress and set new goals.  The sessions are taught by esteemed faculty and rounded out with local panel discussions on topics such as "Wisdom From the Bench", " A Candid Conversation with Corporate Decisionmakers", and "What Firms Really Think."

The Ladder Down program started as a grassroots effort and has enjoyed four years of success in Phoenix, Arizona with over 100 program graduates. Participants in the program report increased client relationships, improved self-confidence, promotions to partnership, greater community involvement, more frequent opportunities for speaking and publishing, and an enhanced referral network. In 2013, the Arizona Association of Defense Counsel was awarded the DRI Diversity Award for its support of the Ladder Down program. Alison and Beth are ready to expand the Ladder Down program's reach to women lawyers across the country through the help of the FDCC Foundation! 

Apply Now! Once application is approved, you will charged the registration fee of $900.

2017 San Francisco Program Schedule

The Ladder Down program is a year-long structure, comprised of accountability sessions and individualized coaching. Limited to 24 in class size, the program begins January 2017. 

Program includes: 

• Leadership Development (3 large group sessions)
• Business Development “Boot Camp” (4 large group sessions)
• Mentoring (1 large group session)
• Accountability (6 small group sessions)

The Ladder Down process is comprised of monthly large group interactive sessions, homework assignments, small group accountability, practical opportunities to try out new skills, and an individual commitment to attend sessions in person.

 DATE                            TIME                          SESSION

January 12                 5:30-7:30 PM        Welcome Reception                                                        

January 19                8-10:30 AM           Lynn Moran                                                                     

February 16              8-10:30 AM           Lynn Moran    

March 2                      TBA                      Lynn Moran -small group meeting

March 16                   8-10:30 AM           Marianne Trost                                                        

April 27                       8-10:30 AM          Marianne Trost                                                          

May 18                        8-10:30 AM           Marianne Trost                                                             

June 22                       8-10:30 AM           Marianne Trost                                                            

July 20                         8-10:30 AM           "What Firms Really Think: A Candid Discussion By and
                                                                    About Firm Leaders"                             

August 3                     TBA                      Lynn Moran -small group meetings

August 17                  8-10:30 AM          "Making Rain Despite the Drought: Prominent Rainmakers
                                                                  Share Secrets to Success"

September 21        8-10:30 AM             "What You Don't Know: A Conversation with Decision Makers"

October 19               8-10:30 AM          "Wisdom from the Bench: The Judicial Perspective"

November 16           8-10:30 AM            Elizabeth Fitch, "Pay it Forward: The Importance of
                                                                 Mentoring"

December 13          5:30-7:30 PM           Graduation