Mentoring Circles
Facilitating Connections
Women’s Mentoring Circles is a program that seeks to facilitate the connection between established women lawyers and their younger counterparts through mentorship. The WMC Program is open to all women attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Texas. Participation is limited to members of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers or the Dallas Women Lawyers Association. Not a member? You can sign up for DAYL here, and DWLA here.
Questions? Contact VPs of Mentoring for more information. Follow WMC on social media!
Change Statistics and Creating Opportunities
A joint initiative between the Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA) and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL), the WMC program promotes the development, advancement, and retainment of women lawyers through mentorship, education, and community-building activities. Since launching in 2016, WMC has built a community of women lawyers in Dallas who are united in the common goal of seeing women succeed in the legal profession.
Mentee Benefits
- Receive guidance from multiple mentors
- Gain support while navigating life as a young attorney
- Build a solid network
- Develop practical skills that support professional growth
Mentee Responsibilities
- Attend large-group events and Mentoring Circle meetups
- Communicate with your Mentoring Circle
- Keep the confidences of your Mentoring Circle members
- Show up and be present
Mentor Benefits
- Develop professional contacts/referral sources
- Refine your leadership skills
- Cultivate connections through shared experiences
- You can learn from everyone, not just Mentors
Mentor Responsibilities
- Attend the 4 large-group events and Mentoring Circle meetups
- Provide support and guidance to Mentees
- Maintain a “safe space” for your Mentoring Circle
Empowering Professional Growth and Connections
Group Mentoring
WMC participants are divided into Mentoring Circles consisting of 10-15 women lawyers at different stages of their careers, providing more opportunities for growth and connection.
Program Format
During the year, there are 4 large-group events with featured speakers and discussion panels, as well as several small group meetups between members of individual Mentoring Circles. The large-group events provide insight and advice on a variety of topics, such as career advancement and self-promotion, business development, and other issues relevant to women in the legal industry, and the small group meetups offer an opportunity for mentors and mentees to connect with one another.
Dates for 2025 WMC’s 4 large-group events:
- Wednesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. (Kick-off)
- Tuesday, April 22 at 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 17 at 12 p.m.
Registration to participate in Women’s Mentoring Circles opens on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 and closes Monday February 17, 2025
An Award Winning Program
WMC is a nationally recognized, award-winning program. In 2017, WMC was awarded the Star of Achievement Award at the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting. In 2022, WMC received the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations’ Outstanding Member Program Special Recognition Award. As a result, the WMC program will be replicated by women’s bar associations across the country.