best law firms for women 2014 Executive Summary

Transcription

1 + best law firms for women Executive Summary

2 Background on the Initiative Since 2007, the Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women initiative has recognized U.S. law firms that have developed the best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers. The winning firms lead the profession in supporting flexible work arrangements and offering generous paid parental leave. The Best Law Firms also focus on strengthening women s representation and influence in the equity partnership and leadership ranks. Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 2

3 Congratulations to the Best Law Firms for Women Baker & McKenzie Chapman and Cutler Cooley Crowell & Moring Davis Wright Tremaine Debevoise & Plimpton DLA Piper Dorsey & Whitney Drinker Biddle & Reath Duane Morris Faegre Baker Daniels Farella Braun + Martel Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner Foley & Lardner Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz Fredrikson & Byron Gibbons Godfrey & Kahn Goodwin Procter Hanson Bridgett Hogan Lovells US Holland & Hart Hunton & Williams Ice Miller Jenner & Block Katten Muchin Rosenman Kirkland & Ellis Latham & Watkins Lindquist & Vennum Littler Lowenstein Sandler Manatt, Phelps & Phillips McDermott Will & Emery McGuireWoods Morrison & Foerster Munger, Tolles & Olson Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Norton Rose Fulbright O Melveny & Myers Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Perkins Coie Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Quarles & Brady Reed Smith Schiff Hardin Seyfarth Shaw Shook, Hardy & Bacon Sidley Austin Thompson & Knight WilmerHale Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 3

4 Summary of Findings forty percent of the Best Law Firms have two or more women among their top ten rainmakers, up from 32% last year. at the Best Law Firms, women hold 24% of Executive, 25% of Compensation, and 26% of Equity Partner Promotion Committee seats. This marks the highest percentage in the past four years for each committee. the Best Law Firms employ more female Equity Partners (19%) than the national average (17%). representation of multicultural women at the Best Law Firms decreases considerably as they move up the ladder: They make up 12% of Associates, but only 2% of Equity Partners. forty-eight firms (96%) allow Reduced Hour Lawyers to be eligible for equity partnership promotion. However, in reality, such promotions are rare: In, an average of zero lawyers were working Reduced Hour schedules at the time of their promotion, down from s average (1 lawyer working a Reduced Hour schedule at the time of promotion). Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 4

5 Women s Representation While the representation of women declines at the partner levels, the Best Law Firms employ more female Equity Partners (19%) than the national average (17%). Women Men Associates 46% 54% Counsel 42% 58% Non-Equity Partners 29% 71% Equity Partners 19% 81% Source: National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) Survey Report. Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 5

6 Women s Representation: 2007 v. The representation of women at the Counsel, Non-Equity Partner and Equity Partner levels continue to increase from the start of the Best Law Firms initiative, seven years ago. 0% 50% Associates % 47% Counsel % 42% Non-Equity Partners % 29% Equity Partners % 16% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 6

7 Women of Color Representation Representation of multicultural women at the Best Law Firms decreases as they move up the ladder from Associate to Equity Partner. Women of Color White Women Men Associates 12% 34% 54% Counsel 7% 35% 58% Non-Equity Partners 5% 24% 71% Equity Partners 2% 17% 81% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 7

8 Female Promotion Rates The rate of female Equity Partner promotions is higher at Best Law Firms with one tier partnership structures than at Best Law Firms with two. At one-tier firms, the rate of female Equity Partner promotions has increased to 31%, up from 29% in. At two-tier firms, the rate of female Equity Partner promotions has decreased one percentage point in the past year. The rate of female Non-Equity Partner promotions has increased five percentage points (38%) from (33%). Women Men New Equity Partner Promotions Firms with one tier Firms with two tiers 31% 25% 69% 75% New Non-Equity Partner Promotions 38% 62% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 8

9 Representation of Women on Influential Committees At the Best Law Firms, women hold 24% of Executive, 25% of Compensation, and 26% of Equity Partner Promotion Committee seats. This marks the highest percentage in the past four years for each committee. 0% 25% Executive/Management Committee % 22% 21% 19% Compensation/Finance Committee % 25% 23% 21% Equity Partner Promotion Committee % 24% 22% 23% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 9

10 Top Ten Rainmakers We asked the Best Law Firms how many of their top ten rainmakers are women. At the 45* firms that answered the question, here s how women fare in rainmaking: Top Ten Rainmakers are the top ten equity partners of the firm who are credited with generating the most gross revenue from clients. No Women One Woman Two Women Three Women 29% 31% 29% 11% 22% 46% 20% 12% Last year, 32% of the Best Law Firms had two or more women in their top ten rainmakers; this year, the number has increased to 40%. *The data for the Best Law Firms is based upon 45 out of 50 Best Law Firms answering this question. Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 10

11 Usage Rates for Flexible Work Arrangements Remain Low All Best Law Firms offer Flex-Time and Reduced Hours. Twenty percent of lawyers at the Best Law Firms use Flex-Time, compared to 15% in. The percentage of lawyers who work Reduced Hours at the Best Law Firms (10%) is higher than the national average (6%), and is one percentage point higher than in. The percentage of Best Law Firms that offer Annualized Hours has increased to 60% from 54% in ; the rate of usage is now 12% of all lawyers compared to 7% last year. 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% nn Percentage of Best Law Firms that offer flexible work arrangement 54% 60% nn Percentage of lawyers who participated 0% 15% 20% 9% Flex-Time Reduced Hours Annualized Hours Source: National Association of Law Placement (NALP). Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. 10% 12% 7% 10% 10% 0% 0% Job Sharing workingmother.com/wmri 11

12 Usage Rates for Flexible Work Arrangements At the Best Law Firms, female and male Equity and Non-Equity Partners are the most likely to use Full-Time Flex-Time and Remote Work, while Counsel dominate usage of Reduced Hour schedules. Associates Counsel Partners Flex-Time 39% 14% 47% Reduced Hours 33% 40% 27% Remote Work 39% 14% 47% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 12

13 Promotion Rates for Reduced Hour Lawyers All 50 Best Law Firms (100%) offer Reduced Hours, and 48 firms (96%) allow Reduced Hour Lawyers to be eligible for equity partnership promotion. However, in reality, such promotions are rare: In, an average of zero lawyers were working Reduced Hour schedules at the time of their promotion, compared to s average (1 lawyer working a Reduced Hour schedule at the time of promotion). Average Number of Lawyers Promoted Non-Equity Partners Equity Partners Average Number of Lawyers Working Reduced Hour Schedules at Time of Promotion Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 13

14 Paid Parental Leave All of the Best Law Firms offer paid Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave. At the Best Law Firms, paid Maternity Leave and Paid Adoption Leave have increased to 15 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively, from. 15 Average Number of Paid Weeks Offered Average Number of Paid Weeks Taken Weeks of Paid Maternity Leave Weeks of Paid Paternity Leave Weeks of Paid Adoption Leave Number of weeks offered and taken represents the average across Associates, Counsel, Non-Equity Partners, and Equity Partners. Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 14

15 Child Care Offerings Compared with last year s winners, more Best Law Firms offer backup child care at facilities, sick-child care, subsidized in-home backup child care, and on-site/near site-child care centers. 0% Percentage of Best Law Firms that Offer Child Care 100% Backup Child Care at Facility 86% 80% Sick-Child Care 64% 84% Subsidized In-Home Backup Child Care 74% 82% On-Site/Near-Site Child Care Center Business Travel Child Care Reimbursement 18% 10% 20% 20% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 15

16 Vacation Day Offerings On average, Non-Equity Partners at the Best Law Firms take the most vacation days, up to 18 from 15 in. Though Counsel at the Best Law Firms were offered fewer paid days (down to 18 from 19 in ), the number of days taken increased to 16, from 15 last year. Average Number of Paid Days Offered Average Number of Paid Days Taken Associates Counsel Non-Equity Partners Equity Partners Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 16

17 Leadership, Networking, Sponsorship & Mentoring All 50 of the Best Law Firms offer networking groups for women lawyers. More Best Law Firms offered women-specific management/leadership education, mentoring circles and mentoring for senior women associates/new women partners than in. Firm offers internal networking groups 100% for women lawyers 100% Firm holds networking events with the female lawyers of the firm and the firm s female clients Firm provides or sends female lawyers to women-specific management or leadership education Firm offers women-specific 94% mentoring programs 92% Firm offers mentoring circles for women to 94% provide support and guidance 90% Firm offers mentoring targeted for senior women associates or new women partners to facilitate advancement or help with transition Firms offers a sponsorship program Firm offers management or leadership 98% training for lawyers 96% Firm provides women-focused business 94% development education and initiatives 96% 54% 56% 82% 90% 92% 100% 98% 100% 98% Firm offers an online women s network for lawyers 44% 54% Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 17

18 Affinity Group Offerings More Best Law Firms offer Affinity Groups for Multicultural Women and Men and Reduced Hour Lawyers than a year ago. n 2007 Best law firms n 2012 Best law firms n Best Law Firms 100% 100% 100% 100% n Best Law Firms 84% 80% 82% 86% 78% 82% 82% 74% 76% 78% 82% 76% 70% 68% 66% 52% 54% 52% 54% 42% 32% 0% Women Multicultural Women Multicultural Men Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Work Life/ Parenting Reduced Hour Lawyers Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 18

19 Application Methodology each firm completed a detailed application covering the following sections: n Workforce Profile n Flexibility n Leadership, Compensation and Advancement of Women n Development and Retention of Women Completed applications were collected online from November 1,, to February 7,. all data for the survey was collected from the full year of. Some comparative data from the, 2012 and 2007 surveys is shown and this data was collected from full year of 2012, 2011 and 2006, respectively. best Law Firms were selected from a pool of self-selected applicant firms with 50 lawyers or more in the United States; only U.S. data was collected. n Statistics reported are aggregated from data provided by the 50 Best Law Firms. n Not all firms answered all questions. the capitalized words are defined terms from the survey. Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 19

20 Contact Information Jennifer Owens Editorial Director Krista Carothers Senior Research Editor Michele Siegel Director of Research Initiatives Kristen Willoughby Senior Manager, Editorial & Research Initiatives Tierney O Brien Custom Insights Analyst tierney.obrien@bonniercorp.com Deborah Epstein Henry, Esq. Founder & President of Flex-Time Lawyers dehenry@flextimelawyers.com Learn more at workingmother.com/wmri and Copyright, Working Mother Media & Flex-Time Lawyers LLC. All rights reserved. workingmother.com/wmri 20