Our Interview With Lauren Wood, Founder & CEO Of The Women in Trial Travel Summit (WITTS)

Lauren Wood is the Founder & CEO of the Women in Trial Travel Summit (WITTS).

What inspired the creation of the Summit, and what gap did you hope it would fill for women in trial advocacy?

WITTS really grew out of my own experience as a female trial lawyer. I had attended countless legal conferences over the years, and while they were valuable professionally, I felt there was something missing. I really wanted to create a space where women could develop professionally while also building genuine relationships with one another in an environment that felt less transactional than a traditional legal conference. And so in the fall of 2021—right after things started “opening up” after Covid—I thought that an in-person event where women in our industry could get together to connect, get to know each other on a deeper level, and support one another would be an excellent way to fill a gap that I felt the industry was missing.

I also believe some of the most valuable conversations happen outside the conference room—over dinner, while traveling, sitting by the pool, or sharing an experience together. Those are the moments when people stop networking and actually start connecting. WITTS was created around that idea: bringing women in the trial-lawyer community together for education, travel, mentorship, wellness, and authentic connection.

What started as a conference has grown into a much larger community, and that has probably been the most rewarding part for me. Women who met through WITTS have become friends, mentors, referral partners, co-counsel, and resources for one another long after the event ends. I’ve heard countless stories from women who attended a WITTS event and now have lifelong friends and also those who have shared significant wins in their business after developing professional connections at the conference.

For women considering law school or interested in becoming trial lawyers, what skills and experiences should they begin developing early in their academic or professional journey?

Start learning how to communicate with people. Litigation is obviously about knowing the law, but being a great trial lawyer requires much more than that. You have to be able to listen, tell a compelling story, think on your feet, understand different perspectives, and communicate complicated information in a way that feels simple and human.

Take advantage of opportunities that require you to speak publicly and become comfortable being uncomfortable. Mock trial, moot court, internships, clinics, depositions, court appearances—anything that gives you practical experience is valuable. But I would also encourage students not to focus exclusively on traditional legal experiences. Travel, work, leadership positions, volunteering, and experiences that expose you to people whose lives are different from your own can make you a better advocate.

And don't wait until you feel completely ready. Some of the biggest opportunities in my career came from saying yes before I knew exactly how I was going to do something and then figuring it out.

How can pre-law and law students build meaningful relationships with practicing trial lawyers and find mentors who can help guide their careers?

The biggest thing is to approach relationship-building as exactly that—building relationships—not collecting contacts.

Attend trial-lawyer conferences, bar association events, law school programs, and organizations where practicing lawyers are actually spending their time. Many events—WITTS included—offer complimentary tickets for new or young lawyers, so take advantage of that. While uncomfortable, go to the events and introduce yourself. Ask thoughtful questions. Follow up afterward. If someone gives you advice, let them know later how you used it. Those small interactions can develop into meaningful professional relationships over time.

I also don't think students need to find one person who becomes their official "mentor." I have learned different things from many people throughout my career. One person may teach you how to try a case, another may teach you how to run a law firm, and someone else may help you navigate a difficult professional decision.

Most importantly, be genuinely curious about people. The strongest professional relationships I've developed weren't created by asking, "What can this person do for me?" They developed because there was a real connection first.

Looking ahead, what changes would you like to see in the legal profession for women in trial advocacy, and what advice would you give to students choosing a law school or planning their future legal career?

I'd like to see more women not only entering trial practice, but staying in it, trying significant cases, owning law firms, taking leadership positions, and creating careers that work for their lives rather than feeling like they have to fit into a model that was designed generations ago.

I'd also like us to continue moving away from the idea that there is one personality or one style that makes a successful trial lawyer. You don't have to become someone else to be effective in a courtroom. Some of the best advocates I know have completely different personalities and approaches. Learning to trust your own voice is incredibly important.

For students choosing a law school, I would look beyond rankings. Consider cost and debt, geography, alumni networks, clinical and trial-advocacy opportunities, and where graduates are actually practicing. The name on your diploma may open certain doors, but what you do once you walk through them matters much more.

And when planning your career, don't feel pressured to have the next twenty years figured out. I certainly didn't. Build skills, seek out good people, take opportunities that challenge you, protect your reputation, and remain open to your career evolving in ways you couldn't have predicted. Some of the most meaningful things I've built in my career—including WITTS—were not part of the plan when I started law school.