Action Step – Remove Mixed Messages From Flexible Work Policies

The Alliance’s Action Steps are designed to assist organizations with implementing practical strategies and policies related to diversity and flexibility.  Members can access full versions of all of the Alliance’s Action Steps in the Member Resource Center.

REMOVE MIXED MESSAGES FROM FLEXIBLE WORK POLICIES

It makes good business sense to have a policy that puts in writing the terms and conditions under which lawyers can work reduced or flexible hours – unless the policy contains negative messages that undermine your firm’s flexible work program. What sort of mixed messages? Here’s just one example of a grudging introductory paragraph that makes it clear that flexible work is not encouraged:

“Lawyers are expected to work full-time schedules as necessary to meet the needs of the Firm’s clients. The Firm will consider requests to work less than full-time, but such requests will not be routinely granted.” Read more

Part-Time Lawyers Achieve Full Success

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Announces the 2013 Flex Success™ Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC, February 4, 2013 — Equity partners who are recognized as leaders in their fields and their firms, with significant books of business and deep client relationships, are standouts by any measure. When they have achieved this success while working reduced hours, they also become award winners – along with their clients who support them.

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) is proud to present the 2013 Flex Success™ Award to two attorney/client teams: Eve N. Howard, a corporate partner in the Washington, DC office of Hogan Lovells US LLP, and her client, Susan Herlick, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Orbital Sciences Corporation; and Marci Rose Levine, a Health & Life Sciences partner in the Washington, DC office of SNR Denton, and her client, Janine Friede, Senior Associate General Counsel, Walmart. Read more

Effective Management for Flex Success™: Supervising Flexible Work Lawyers

February 2013

Featuring — Cynthia Thomas Calvert, Principal, Workforce 21C & Senior Advisor, Diversity & Flexibility Alliance

The success of flexible work programs depends on the partners supervising the lawyers who are working flexibly. Manage well and the firm prospers; make too many mistakes and costs rise, productivity tanks, and clients complain. Cynthia will discuss of best practices for supervising lawyers who work nontraditional schedules. Learn the three keys to effective management of flex workers, and the worst mistake that supervisors can make. Throughout the presentation, Cynthia will provide tips to make your work life easier as you manage flex lawyers.