By Hillary Mantis
The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) and Flex-time Lawyers LLC recently came out with a survey of the Top 50 best law firms for women in 2011. The news is hopeful—the survey reports that 100% of the best law firms listed have Reduced Hours policies, 44% have written full-time Flex-Time policies, and 78% offer full-time Telecommuting policies. 54% offer Annualized hours, and 10% offer Job Sharing.
The parental leave policies at these firms are generous. The firms provide an average of 14 weeks of paid leave to their lawyers who become moms, 6 weeks to their lawyer dads, and 11 weeks to adoptive parents who are lawyers. They also received top marks for Childcare options, with 78% offering backup childcare.
The stats on the percentage of women lawyers making equity partner, however, indicate that we may still have a ways to go. Although the average at the Best Law Firms, 19 %, definitely exceeded the national norm, the national average is still only 15%, according to data listed in the survey’s Executive Summary.
The 50 Best Law Firms for women are profiled in the fall 2011 issue of NAFE magazine. For a full list of the law firms listed in the survey, click here.Â
You can write to Hillary at altcareer@aol.com
