Cooley Makes First Hires with Inaugural OnRamp Fellowship Program

Palo Alto – May 19, 2014 – Cooley LLP announced today that it has hired two OnRamp Fellows from the inaugural 2014 fellowship class. Sheila Bridges will join Cooley's litigation department in San Francisco and Mary Klumpp will join the firm's trademark, copyright & advertising group in Washington, DC.

The OnRamp Fellowship is a new and innovative program in the legal profession with the mission of facilitating the re-entry of experienced women lawyers back into law firms. Cooley is one of four major law firms to pilot with the Fellowship in its first year.

"Participating in the OnRamp Fellowship is a testament to our ongoing commitment to promoting and advancing women within the firm and the legal profession," said Joe Conroy, Cooley's chief executive officer. "It's great to welcome Sheila and Mary as OnRamp Fellows and we are excited about the positive impact this first-of-its-kind program will have on re-engaging talented women practitioners who have taken time away from practice for any number of reasons. We view this group of lawyers as a source of tremendous know-how and capability and are enthusiastic about the opportunity to partner with OnRamp from the outset."

Created by lawyer recruitment, development and diversity veteran Caren Ulrich Stacy, the OnRamp Fellowship is a re-entry platform that matches experienced, women lawyers returning to the profession with law firms for a one-year, paid training contract. Through the fellowship, returning women lawyers will have an opportunity to demonstrate their value in the marketplace while also broadening their experience, skills and professional networks.

"It is gratifying to see these lawyers, who excelled in their careers before opting out, return to the legal profession in a way that acknowledges their talent and experience while providing an environment in which they can re-establish their practices, explore new areas and expand their professional networks," said Caren Ulrich Stacy. "I have no doubt that this inaugural group of fellows will lead the way in demonstrating the depth and breadth of this untapped pool of talent, and the value of the OnRamp Fellowship."

A total of nine OnRamp Fellows were chosen from a pool of 170 women lawyers who applied for the program, completed a rigorous screening process that highlighted their impressive qualifications, including years of service at a variety of legal organizations.  During their respective hiatuses, which ranged in length from three to twenty years, the fellows continued to develop their skills in leadership roles in organizations like the Military Spouse JD Network, while earning advanced degrees and holding elected offices.

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