Legal News

Is UK Firm's Part-Time Partner Policy Really the Answer?

By Brian Harris

By Jaime Bochet
Of the Legal Staff

One of the websites I check regularly (and get helpful daily e-mail alerts from) is a blog on Lawjobs.com called The Careerist. If you haven't heard of it, it's a blog that "aims to dissect developments in the profession, provide useful information and advice, and give lawyers a platform to voice their views. The goal is to provide a fresh, provocative take on the state of lawyering." It is geared toward a slightly younger audience, with a very informal tone, but it's informative and very readable.

Chief blogger Vivia Chen posted yesterday the news that a British firm, Allen & Overy, has implemented a new part-time equity partner policy, which it says is specifically designed to appeal to women. It's their answer to the "Can you have it all?" question so many of today's female lawyers are facing.

The deal is this: work a four-day week, or work a full-time schedule but take an extra 52 vacation days in addition to the 30 they already have. PLUS national holidays. (There is a pay reduction involved.) And the cherry on top: A&O says part-time partners can continue "to progress as an equity partner, for a maximum period of eight years."

The firm is very upfront about why it started this policy - its retention numbers for women equity partners are below the (already low) average of 15 percent, which is also the average rate for American firms. (The policy is available to all the firm's partners globally.)

Now, work-life balance is all about making people happier, right? After all, a number of studies, including this one cited in Forbes magazine this year, have shown that happier, more balanced people are more productive. And I have been hearing young lawyers of both sexes saying for years that they would gladly take a pay cut if it meant they could bill fewer hours. So this policy sounds pretty good for all involved. Even the Careerist says she's surprised more partners "haven't busted down the doors of H.R. to sign up."

But is it all just lip service? Plenty of American firms say they have part-time policies for partners, and I've met several women who say they made partner while working part-time. But then why aren't the retention numbers higher?

Maybe the key is that this policy is designed to trickle down. A&O senior lawyer David Morley says, "We wanted to send a strong signal by starting at the top. Everyone knows that unless the partners have bought in, then nothing really happens."

It looks good on paper, and almost 100 days off a year certainly sounds appealing. But it seems that only time will tell if such policies really impact the retention numbers. What do you think? Would you sign up for A&O's program? E-mail me or comment below!

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on August 26, 2010 (boomark / email).