Stoel Rives Joins OnRamp Fellowship, a Women Lawyer "Returnship" Program

Program promotes the recruitment and advancement of women lawyers seeking to return to the profession

The U.S. law firm of Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that it has partnered with OnRamp Fellowship, the first “Returnship” program ever launched in the legal profession. In doing so, the Firm has expanded the Fellowship program to three new markets for the first time — Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle — with additional Fellowship opportunities expected in other markets in which the Firm has a presence, including Anchorage and Sacramento.

The OnRamp Fellowship was established to provide experienced women lawyers re-entering the profession with an opportunity to update their skills and contacts through paid, one-year Fellowships with major law firms. Joining Stoel Rives as new law firm program partners are Skadden, Morrison & Foerster, Loeb & Loeb, Wiley Rein and Wilson Elser, as well as the program’s first legal department, Amazon, and financial services firm, Barclays. Together, the participating organizations - 25 law firms, Amazon, and Barclays - have posted more than 150 Fellowship positions in 33 cities across the country. 

“The legal profession has long struggled with the retention and advancement of women and minorities,” said Tim Taylor, Chair of the Stoel Rives Diversity and Inclusion Committee. “The time to change that is now. Helping experienced women lawyers re-ignite their professional careers in a firm with a core commitment to diversity, and the support of the OnRamp Fellowship, can make this change a reality.”

“Diversity and inclusion is one of Stoel Rives’ most important values and a key element of our strategic vision,” added Jill King, Chief Lawyer Development Officer. “We’re excited to work with the OnRamp Fellowship to develop placement opportunities for this unique talent pool of experienced women lawyers seeking to reenter the profession.”

Stoel Rives has long been recognized for its advancement of women lawyers to positions of leadership and ownership. The Firm is Gold Standard Certified by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum, a leading organization for women in law dedicated to assisting women assume leadership roles within the National Law Journal 250 and Fortune 1000 legal departments and within their respective communities.