About Betsy
Elizabeth Munnell (“Betsy“, to her clients and colleagues) was a partner for almost 25 years at Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP (now Locke Lord, LLP). One of the pioneers in Edwards & Angell’s Boston office, Betsy joined her firm as a partner in 1985, six years out of law school, with a substantial book of business she had developed as a young associate at Choate Hall & Stewart. She was among the core group of “rainmakers” responsible for the growth of the Firm’s nationally recognized media and communications debt finance, private equity, and M&A industry practice group and has decades of experience representing lending institutions, private equity funds, and businesses in structuring sophisticated debt and equity financings.
In addition to building a national practice, Betsy was one of the chief architects of her firm’s diversity program. Among her many initiatives was the business development curriculum she developed and taught, providing practical skills training to the Firm’s women attorneys.
In 2009, Betsy embarked on a new career as a lawyer coach and business development consultant, drawing on her 30 years of experience and law practice growth to provide career guidance to attorneys of all ages and experiences.
Betsy remains an outspoken advocate for women and minorities in the legal profession. A vocal presence online, she favors renovating law school core requirements and associate training programs to include intensive instruction in finance, business strategies, and other critical practical skills.
Betsy is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. At HLS, she serves as a Visiting J.D. Adviser in the Office for Career Services. In collaboration with OCS and the HLS Women’s Law Association, Betsy has provided spring semester coaching to 2Ls aiming for a large firm practice.
Betsy Chaired the Board of the American Bar Association’s Career Center from 2018 to 2020. She has also consulted extensively to The Fullbridge Program, a coaching-intensive XBA business education program for law firm associates, advising on law program content.
Through Diversity Lab’s OnRamp Fellowship Betsy volunteers to coach women returning to the workforce after a career hiatus and matched with law firms and legal departments for year-long paid positions. She is also among the select group of coaches featured on Diversity Lab’s Top Lawyer Coaches site.
Like her husband, also a lawyer, Betsy grew up in New York City. They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and have three daughters, aged 32, 27, and 24, and an anxious but irresistible rescue dog.