Silverman Thompson Women’s Legal Network
Founded in 2018, the Silverman Thompson Women’s Legal Network has promoted intra-office mentorship and advancement. The firm regularly hosts women partners and expert guests to present on a variety of skills and topics in the legal field and has recently introduced an associate mentorship program.
Additionally, this program includes quarterly social events for women attorneys of all levels and experience where women of the office can foster mentorship, familiarity, and openly discuss the firm and the legal field as a whole.
“The Women’s Legal Network is an extremely valuable part of Silverman Thompson’s commitment to creating an environment where women attorneys can excel,” says program leader and Partner Kerri Smith. “It improves career development and retention for our women attorneys, builds an inclusive and positive workplace, and acknowledges that a diverse team best serves the needs of our clients.”
Silverman Thompson Receives The Daily Record’s Inaugural Empowering Women Award
Silverman Thompson has recently been honored with The Daily Record’s 2024 Empowering Women Award, recognizing the firm’s dedication to advancing women in Maryland’s legal profession. With women comprising one-third of its attorneys and holding significant leadership roles—including two of six executive committee positions and leadership of two out of five practice areas—the firm emphasizes mentorship, clear advancement pathways, and professional development.
The firm’s female attorneys have also received accolades such as inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Maryland’s Top 100 Women. This award highlights both the excellence of legal talent at the firm and Silverman Thompson’s sustained commitment to fostering gender equity and supporting women’s leadership within the legal community.
Read more about this honor here.
Internal Networking Events
Every year, at least half of our summer and year-round law clerks are women, who are provided mentorship and exposure to various facets of the law during their tenure at the firm. Silverman Thompson’s programs for law students are unique, encouraging interdisciplinary exploration of different fields allowing future women lawyers to work with virtually every female partner at Silverman Thompson and explore a variety of legal fields and pathways.
Lunch and Learns
So much of women’s empowerment at Silverman Thompson hinges on visibility of what young women can achieve. Accomplished and revered attorney and former Baltimore City prosecutor Andrea Smith is an attorney with the Silverman Thompson and frequently hosts “lunch and learns” to discuss her experience as a state and federal prosecutor and as a criminal defense attorney.
Other attorneys, like Partner Laura Simmons, have hosted forums at the firm, making educational talks easily accessible to young attorneys. She recently hosted a “Nuts and Bolts of District Court Practice” with the Bar Association of Baltimore City for attorneys to ask questions and gain insights as they grow their personal injury practices.
Associates and Counsel Committee
This year, Silverman Thompson launched the Associates and Counsel Committee, chaired by Kerri Smith. This firm committee aims to provide easily accessible mentorship opportunities and practice skills training to the firm’s associates and counsel.
Throughout their tenure as an associate at Silverman Thompson, any associate is able to request mentorship in a specific practice area, substantive topic of law, or business development skill. They are then matched with a more experienced attorney at Silverman Thompson who can best advise this developing lawyer.