About Ida

I have been in the legal profession as a lawyer, consultant and thought leader for almost five decades. I was one of the first people to specialize in lawyers’ professional development and retention and in advancing women into leadership, and I remain a leading expert on mentoring and sponsorship as means to guide, support and transform professional careers.

In response to the evolving needs of my clients, most of my practice now is helping individuals and firms design strategies for retirement. Never before has the need for strategic support for retirement planning been so apparent or urgent. People who have achieved successful careers are wondering what they will do next, and firms are grappling with how to manage succession and retirement of their partners, leaders and executives. It has been exciting and fulfilling to work with professionals as they built their careers. Now I support them by helping them create retirements that are right for them, their families, and their firms.

Throughout my career, I have held leadership and board positions in numerous bar associations, women’s organizations, and professional associations in the US and internationally, and I am currently Vice-Chair of the National Legal Mentoring Consortium. I have co-founded and led several important organizations, including the Hastings Leadership Academy for Women and the Professional Development Consortium, and have served on the editorial and advisory boards of many publications, agencies and non-profits.

In recognition of my contributions to the legal profession, I was elected a Fellow of both the College of Law Practice Management and the American Bar Foundation, which honors the top 1% of lawyers who have promoted the highest principles and welfare of the profession.

My volunteer work includes serving as a mentor in Law Without Walls, a collaborative, global law school program that accelerates innovation in legal education and practice. I am also on the Bay Area Advisory Board of Facing History and Ourselves, a global education organization that uses history to help students learn how to use knowledge and compassion to fight bigotry and hatred.

I am a frequent keynote speaker and presenter, and am the author of numerous books and publications, which you can find on this website.

I received my J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, M.A. from the University of Miami, and A.B. from Smith College.