Q. Who should apply for WGCC Regular Membership?

Answer: WGCC Regular membership is for women executive legal leaders who want to build relationships and connections with other senior executive women colleagues in the legal community.  WGCC Regular Membership offers a range of opportunities to participate, connect and give back.

See Membership Benefits for a non-exhaustive description of Membership Benefits and Membership Categories to review eligibility and learn which category is best for you.

Q. Who should apply for WGCC Fellow Membership?

Answer:  WGCC Fellow membership is for women executive legal leaders who want to remain connected with colleagues in the legal community and have taken a role as a business executive wherein their new responsibilities may no longer have oversight of legal operations and so they may not qualify for WGCC Regular Membership.  

Applicants for WGCC Fellow Membership may have previously been WGCC Regular members who have experienced a career in the legal profession and may have enjoyed connecting with colleagues and friends though WGCC events – or may be new to WGCC and look forward to benefiting from staying connected to other women executive leaders in the legal community.

This membership category gives WGCC Fellows the opportunity to remain connected and up to date through attendance at events and volunteering in various mentorship, networking and coaching programs offered by WGCC.

See Membership Benefits for a non-exhaustive description of Membership Benefits and Membership Categories to review eligibility and learn which category is best for you.

Q: Who should apply for WGCC Emeritus Membership?

Answer: Emeritus membership is for women executive legal leaders who want to remain connected with colleagues in the legal community despite no longer actively working full time in a position that would make them eligible for WGCC Regular Membership (e.g., after retirement). Many of our Emeritus members have had long careers in the legal profession and have enjoyed connecting with colleagues and friends though WGCC events.  This membership option gives the Emeritus Member the opportunity to remain connected and up to date through attendance at events and volunteering in various mentorship, networking and coaching programs offered by WGCC.

Emeritus Members can enjoy WGCC Emeritus Membership at a reduced price, keep up to date on industry trends and maintain relationships with other WGCC members.

See Membership Benefits for a non-exhaustive description of Membership Benefits and Membership Categories to review eligibility and learn which category is best for you.

Q: Why apply for WGCC “In Transition Membership”?

Answer: WGCC is a community of Senior Legal Executive Women who enjoy the many benefits of Membership including connecting with colleagues and friends though WGCC events. Many members have gone through transitions themselves, some to non-legal roles others to similar positions in other companies and are now eligible to be WGCC Fellows. Working through a transition, by remaining connected to the WGCC community, and the relationships built here, may help to ease the transition. Each WGCC In-Transition Member is entitled to all rights and privileges of the Membership category to which they previously belonged as a member in good standing (WGCC Regular Member or WGCC Fellow Member). This category is offered to existing WGCC Members only. Current or recently lapsed WGCC Members should request a “Change in Status” and submit it to the Membership Committee Chair for consideration.

Q: Why was my WGCC Membership application not accepted? 

Answer: If you would like to learn why your application to WGCC was not accepted please contact the WGCC Membership Committee for details. Although the decision of the WGCC Membership Committee is final, if you believe key information was missing from your application, you are welcome to submit a new application with more detailed description of your accountabilities and your new application will be considered. 

Q: If I identify as a woman, am I eligible for membership?

Answer: Yes

Q: Are lawyers in private practice eligible for WGCC Membership?

Answer: Lawyers who practice law at a firm are not eligible for membership in WGCC, even if they previously qualified for membership. WGCC partners with a number of law firms and there may be opportunities to participate in that way. We encourage you to reach out to the appropriate person in your firm for more details on how you may be involved. In addition, watch our WGCC website and if you see an event you would like to be involved with, please contact the event organizers who will let you know if it is open to non-WGCC members. You may also refer to Membership Categories to review eligibility requirements.

Q: I would like to apply for WGCC Membership, but I am unsure as to which category I should apply. What should I do? 

Answer: You may first wish to refer to Membership Categories to review eligibility requirements. You may also: • Reach out to the WGCC Membership Committee Chair for assistance. • Apply for the Membership Category you believe suits you best, we will suggest an alternative if you are not eligible 

Q: I have held numerous positions over my long career including Private Practice at a firm, a non-practicing Executive Leader at a Law firm and even Chief Legal Officer at an organization. 

Answer: You may first wish to refer to Membership Categories to review eligibility requirements. You may also

• Reach out to the WGCC Membership Committee Chair for assistance
• Apply for the Membership Category you believe suits you best, we will suggest an alternative if you are not eligible

Q: Membership Fees

Answer: Membership fees are due annually. There are no refunds on membership fees.

Q: How do I apply for an exception when I am not the ‘most senior woman legal executive’ in the organization?

Answer: WGCC Regular Membership may be extended, by exception, to a woman executive legal leader who is not the ‘most senior woman’ in the organization. If you are not the most senior woman legal executive in your organization but still wish to join, you may still be eligible to join via an exception. WGCC recognizes that large organizations may have several divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, and departments that are independently led by senior legal woman executives who, if considered independently of the organization’s structure, would qualify for membership. In other words, they are excluded simply because they are not the ‘most senior’ woman legal executive in the organization, but instead one a few at that same level. In situations such as these, the interested applicant should apply for Regular Membership and, at the same time, reach out to the WGCC Membership Committee with details of the organization’s structure that is causing the conflict. Note: support and/or acknowledgement of the membership application by the most senior woman legal executive in the organization may be required. Recommendation for admission to WGCC on ‘an exception’ is at the sole discretion of the WGCC Membership Committee and subject to approval by the WGCC Executive Committee.