Action Step – Making Business Development A Priority for Flex or Reduced Hours Attorneys

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.

MAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT A PRIORITY FOR FLEX OR REDUCED HOURS ATTORNEYS

The failure to develop business is a disastrous mistake. Having a book of business can counteract virtually all of the perceived negative effects of working flexibly. Consider the following:

  1. Income from origination credits offsets income lost when fewer hours are billed;
  1. Pro-active business development undercuts the notion that a flexible or reduced hours lawyer is not committed to the job or firm;
  1. Having your own clients makes it easier to control your schedule and avoid scheduling conflicts…

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Spotlight on Flex – Victoria Lee

The Spotlight on Flex showcases professionals from member organizations who exemplify personal and professional success while working a flexible schedule. Their stories illustrate the long-term benefits that flexible schedules offer to both individuals and organizations.

This month, we are pleased to share insights from Victoria Lee, Partner in the Silicon Valley office of DLA Piper. Ms. Lee is a 2014 Flex Success™ Award Honoree.

©John Swanda Swanda & Schindler Digital Photography 109 Geary St., 3rd fl. San Francisco CA 94108 www.swandaschindler.com john@swandaschindler.com

Diversity & Flexibility Alliance: How have you made work-life control a priority and a success with your schedule? How has your client contributed to this?

Victoria Lee: I’ve been on a reduced schedule for the last eight years; after the birth of my son, I came back from maternity leave at an 80% schedule.  At the time, the firm was going through the three-way merger, and there was no formal alternative work schedule (AWS) policy in place.  In some ways I was lucky – I just talked with my practice group leader, said this was what I wanted to do, and it was done.  The firm was “flexible.”  Since then we’ve developed an infrastructure, with the support of partners and senior level management, to implement a formal AWS. The firm has been extremely supportive of flexibility.  Read more

Working Well: Connecting Wellness to Work-Life Control

May 2014

Featuring — Mark Goldberg, Global Wellness Manager, Latham & Watkins LLP and Carol Vitelli, Manager of Wellness Programs, White & Case LLP

There is growing attention to wellness programs and the importance they play in building resilience, decreasing absenteeism, and increasing morale.  But wellness is also an essential tool to achieving work-life control just as work-life control is essential to your overall well-being.  Making this connection successful is critical in the legal environment where stress, poor eating habits, and a stationary lifestyle are pervasive.

Mark and Carol will discuss the fundamental connections between wellness and work-life control by highlighting the business case and the strategy, implementation, and marketing processes of wellness programs as part of our collective efforts to realizing a happy, healthy, positive, and flexible workforce.