The LIWOCA Story
LIWOCA was born out of a concern about the future of diverse women in the legal profession. In 2005, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Legal Profession released the preliminary findings of its 2-year long research initiative on women of color in private law firms. The research identified several distinct factors contributing to an overwhelming majority of women of color attorneys leaving private law firms after just six years. Almost immediately, a group of concerned attorneys and members of the business community resolved that women of color attorneys needed a nationwide forum to connect, be inspired and become informed.
In 2005, LIWOCA was formed as a 501(c)(3) organization, hosting its first national conference that same year in Atlanta, Georgia. The first conference hosted more than 100 women of color attorneys and their allies for over two days and was a huge success. Speakers who came from all over the United States presented to women who were inspired, mentored, and had an opportunity to network with some of the most successful attorneys in the nation. The need for the conference was confirmed and over the last twenty years we have continued to host hundreds of attorneys, many of whom describe the conference as the most professionally rewarding event of the year. In addition to our annual conference and thanks to sponsor financial support, LIWOCA has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to women law students throughout the country.
MISSION
The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys, Inc.'s ("LIWOCA") mission is to:
Help women of color attorneys and their allies in law firms and legal departments develop the critical skills necessary to become partners and leaders in the legal profession;
Assist law firms and legal departments to retain and promote women of color attorneys; and
Continue to fuel the pipeline by offering scholarships to women of color attorneys and their supporters.
BENEFITS
Whether you're just starting out in your legal career or you're a seasoned attorney looking for new opportunities for growth, LIWOCA is the perfect group for you. Here are just a few of the benefits you'll receive by joining us:
Network with other attorneys in the legal field
Hear from inspiring keynote speakers who have overcome adversity and achieved great success
Participate in professional development workshops and panel discussions
Learn from experienced attorneys and experts in a variety of legal areas
Gain valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the legal field
OUR CEO & FOUNDER:
Marian Cover Dockery
MARIAN COVER DOCKERY is the Managing Member of Marian Dockery & Associates LLC in Washington, D.C., specializing in labor and employment discrimination and wage and hour claims. With over 40 years of practice, she formerly served for 14 years as executive director of the State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program, where she designed CLE programs and created the Annual High School Pipeline Program. She is also a ranked arbitrator for FINRA.
Previously, Marian was a senior attorney for the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and an adjunct professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall School of Law. Her past roles include trial attorney at the EEOC; in-house counsel at FEDEX Corporation, where she was the first woman and minority in the Legal Department; and corporate EEO/AA manager at BP Oil, as the first African-American woman in an executive management role.
Marian is a member of multiple bar associations and has served on boards including the Equal Employment Advisory Council and Pace Academy. She founded and served as president of the Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys, Inc. (LIWOCA), where she is now CEO.
A frequent speaker on diversity, she has presented at events for the ABA, the National Bar Association, and law schools including Emory and Mercer. She has contributed to ABA publications and written for the Georgia Bar Journal.
Marian earned her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Her honors include the State Bar of Georgia’s 2018 Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award.
Marian Cover Dockery Interview with Black Information Network
On April 14, 2024, LIWOCA Founder and CEO Marian Cover Dockery was interviewed by Ester Dillard of BIN. Click Below to hear Marian's Interview. Interview starts at about minute 53.