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Legal Commentary

: The Common Scold

KEEPING WOMEN IN BIGLAW

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Another good step towards addressing the unacceptable gender pay and promotion gaps in the legal profession that I have been ranting about since the Census figures came out last fall: Our colleagues at The National Law Journal report that 8 law firm leaders and 7 corporate GC met recently to address how both can better support flex-time and part-time policies to advance women at firms. Women make up only 17% of law firm partners, despite graduating from law school in equal numbers, studies show.

Reports Lynne Marek:

[E]ight top firm partners at the March 27 meeting in Chicago suggested that general counsel focus on flex- and part-time policies when hiring firms and deliver praise when they're satisfied with the programs, according to participants.

The seven general counsel want firms to be more transparent in using the programs and less reluctant to implement them, they said.

Although attorneys from both sides support the policies, they have misperceptions and differing positions about what's stymieing more use of the programs, said lawyers who attended the meeting.

Corporate clients need to "state openly that it's important," and that will give firm leaders more backing to do the same, said Dickstein Shapiro Chairman Michael Nannes.

The Project for Attorney Retention, an effort started by a pair of women lawyers who contend that the flex- and part-time policies help retain and advance women at firms, initiated the meeting with lawyers they consider leaders in the area. The project, which is funded by its law firm and corporate members, will bring the lawyers together again in June before issuing a best practices report.

Full story here.

Hat tip to the AmLawDaily.

Full post as published by The Common Scold on April 02, 2009 (boomark / email).