Strong pitching skills are essential to growing a client base and communicating the value of one’s legal practice. For women in law, pitch experience is also a valuable opportunity to help close the pay equity gap and advance their careers. However, many associates don’t get the opportunity to practice this necessary skill.

ChIPs champions the career development of early career attorneys, and our Mock Pitch program has been helping associates and junior partners deliver better client pitches since 2014. Registration is now open for this year’s Mock Pitch, which will offer participants the chance to hone their skills in an AI tech case. One of our Mock Pitch volunteers, Taylor Corbitt, SVP Deputy General Counsel and Head of Litigation at Allstate, offered the following advice to help participants prepare for this year’s exciting event.

• Bring a strategy and a recommendation—not just a list of options.
• Be mindful of time, and tailor your presentation accordingly.
• Understand how to prepare with AI and prioritize thoughtful judgement.
• Don’t shout—let your strategy speak instead.
• Keep business needs at the core of your proposal.
• Consider how to balance relationship-building and strategy.

With pitch practice, associates can build a foundation for resilient teams and long-term success. Pitching is a core skill, but attorneys can’t improve without practice; learning how to pitch and receiving feedback from experts will improve the longevity of legal teams. And the earlier associates begin to practice, the better. Investing in professional development now can support the retention of top talent, eliminating the costs and challenges of rehiring and retraining later.

Pitch practice is one of the many ways ChIPs supports women early in their careers and beyond. I hope you’ll join us for next month’s virtual Mock Pitch, along with our many other skill-building opportunities and community events this year.

Best regards,

Joan Toth