9.
A
problem unique to the legal industry is that women and attorneys of color leave the profession because they have inadequate access to “standup” courtroom opportunities. A “stand-up” courtroom opportunity gives a lawyer the chance to be in front of a judge, in open court, and advocate for his or her client. Because of changing dynamics in the legal profession, these
24
Fish & Richardson Innovation: Next Gen Initiative Introduced: 2016 Program Leader: Martina Tyreus Hufnal
opportunities are diminishing for junior attorneys, who are statistically more diverse than senior lawyers. Without this experience, younger lawyers can see their careers stalled. As a result, they often choose to leave law firms and, sometimes, the legal field. In 2016, Fish partnered with ChIPs and the Federal Circuit Bar Association to increase the opportunities given to junior
lawyers by establishing an organized Next Gen Initiative. ChIPs is a nonprofit organization formed to support and promote the advancement, development, and retention of women in the fields of technology, intellectual property, and regulatory policy. The Federal Circuit Bar Association is a network crossing the regional, national, and global Federal Circuit community.