Relaunching Legal Careers with Leading Organizations
What is the OnRamp Fellowship?
The OnRamp Fellowship, powered by Diversity Lab, is a re-entry platform that matches experienced lawyers returning to the workforce after a career hiatus with law firms and legal departments in the US for year-long paid positions.
Why is OnRamp Important to Returners?
How Does OnRamp Benefit Organizations?
What is the Goal of OnRamp?
Founding Law Firms
Testimonials
You cannot emphasize the importance of the OnRamp Fellowship enough. It was almost impossible for me to get back into BigLaw after stepping away…for 17 years. Because of the way the program evaluates fellowship candidates, it made law firms more willing to give us a chance.
Mimi Ophir OnRamp Fellow AlumWithout the OnRamp Fellowship, I would never have been able to return to a law firm after a 20-year hiatus. OnRamp provided me with the encouragement, tools, and support to land the job, and to succeed.
Pam Zdunek OnRamp Fellow AlumUse OnRamp for you in your new role — make it part of your pitch and brand because it carries power.
Kate Sigafoos OnRamp Fellow AlumIn my cohort calls I could talk through with other Fellows the challenges of returning after six years away. My cohort gave me support and reminded me that I was not alone.
Sallie Lin OnRamp Fellow AlumWithout the OnRamp Fellowship, I would never have been able to return to a law firm after a 20-year hiatus. OnRamp provided me with the encouragement, tools, and support to land the job, and to succeed.
Pam Zdunek OnRamp Fellow AlumOnRamp provided me support and structure as I transitioned back into the workforce. Cohorts, a career coach, and training made it possible for me to thrive in my return.
Vinella Sido OnRamp Fellow AlumI always knew I still had a lot to contribute to my field as a lawyer. After a gap in my career it seemed impossible to take even the first step towards re-entering the work force. My admin skills felt out of date and my networks felt stale. OnRamp created a way for me to fulfill my dreams of returning to the law and re-launching a successful legal career. OnRamp is the perfect launching pad for the right candidate to prove that even after a gap, we can absolutely add value.
Josefina Jimenez Plaister #1 OnRamp Fellow AlumOnRamp was instrumental in helping me relaunch my legal career. Their support, training and network of past/current Fellows is an invaluable resource.
Geeta Oberoi Tholan OnRamp Fellow AlumNews and events
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10 Jun 2024New York Times, "Don’t Say ‘Elite’: Corporate Firms’ New Pitch Is Meritocracy"
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29 May 2024BizJournal, "Resume gaps aren't the dealbreaker they once were, but there's a catch"
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08 May 2024Crain’s New York Business, "Return to Work Options Are Growing for Mid-Career People"
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16 Jun 2023Washington Lawyer, "Another Shot at Big Law"
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06 Sep 2022Bloomberg Law, "Resume Gaps Lose Sting for Some Women Eyeing Return to Big Law"
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29 Jul 2022Law.com, "‘Be Proud of It’: Lawyers Relaunching Careers Can Do So From Position of Strength"
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28 Apr 2022Law360, "Talent Wars Give Women Attys Seeking ‘Third Act’ New Edge"
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01 Nov 2021The American Lawyer, "39 Firms and Legal Departments Team Up to Bring Women Back to the Legal Workforce"
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01 Nov 2021Law360, "Diversity Lab Sets New Goal For Returning Law Professionals"
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01 Nov 2021The Global Legal Post, "Diversity Lab seeks to help 200 women lawyers return to the profession by 2025"
A Note from the Fellowship Founder
A lot of smart people in the legal profession are focusing on how to retain women in the workforce. And for good reason — the number of female lawyers in law firms is declining and there continues to be a deficit of women and diverse lawyers in the leadership ranks within law firms and legal departments. But what about the highly qualified women and other lawyers who took a hiatus from our profession and want to come back? When a third-year female associate in a law firm, for example, takes a job hiatus for several years to raise children, there is invariably a question about where she will fit in the law firm’s compensation and advancement structure upon her return.
As a 30-year talent management veteran in law, I understand the challenges faced by women in these fast-paced, demanding environments. When a third-year female associate in a law firm, for example, takes a job hiatus for several years to raise children, there is invariably a question about where she will fit in the law firm’s compensation…and advancement structure upon her return. Many practice group leaders have asked me that precise question when I have presented them with similar lateral candidates. The even tougher questions that typically follow include: “How can we be certain that she has the skills to step right back in? And do we know for sure that she really wants to come back?” None of these questions can be answered easily and confidently at the outset. That is why Goldman Sachs, Sara Lee, Credit Suisse, and others have been facilitating “Returnships” (trademarked by Goldman Sachs) for years. These re-entry platforms allow the returning professionals and the organizations to engage in a “try-out” to determine fit, while also giving the professionals a chance to strengthen their skills. With the help of more than 20 talent experts and many innovative organizations, we have built our own unique version of the “Returnship” model – with a robust selection process and a comprehensive training and coaching component – in the legal profession. The goal is to provide returning women and other lawyers with additional experience and skills while helping law firms and legal departments replenish their talent pipeline with diverse, high-performers who have a desire to return to and advance in these organizations. More than 3 million women left the workforce in the last few years, with the pandemic exacerbating the exodus further. We want to make sure the lawyers who left have a structured path back into law. Click on applicants or organizations to learn about the benefits, the program infrastructure, and how to apply or join the effort. Thanks to the wonderful support of everyone involved since OnRamp’s inception in 2014, including the four founding firms mentioned above, we’ve already matched more than 115 returning women – one-third of whom are lawyers of color – with leading law firms, legal departments, and financial services firms. See More
A ‘Returnship’ That Benefits Everybody
If you are a law firm or legal department looking to advance inclusivity in the workplace, or you’re a potential applicant, learn more about the OnRamp Fellowship.
Connecting with my amazing cohort [was the most valuable aspect of my Fellowship.] I learned so much from them, continue to stay in touch with most, and draw on that group regularly for inspiration and gut checks. Having the opportunity to connect with women with shared experiences, and to get encouragement from them as we navigated that first year back, was something I would not have wanted to proceed without.
Anne Fiero OnRamp Fellow Alum