Action Step – Working Outside the Box: Tips for Establishing A Telecommuting Policy

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.

WORKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: TIPS FOR ESTABLISHING A TELECOMMUTING POLICY

Telecommuting is an important part of holistic flexibility and can be considered “low-hanging fruit” if your firm is looking for ways to build its flexibility program. While many firms may allow their attorneys to telecommute informally, establishing a formal telecommuting policy is important for the following reasons:

  1. Consistency
  2. Setting Expectations
  3. Credit
  4. Helps Set Firm Culture
  5. Technology…

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Action Step – Tips for Starting an On-Ramping Program at Your Organization

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.

TIPS FOR STARTING AN ON-RAMPING PROGRAM AT YOUR ORGANIZATION

On-Ramping is one of the best ways to retain talented lawyers. It’s also inexpensive, measurably effective, and gaining in usage among law firms of all sizes. An on-ramping program eases lawyers’ transition back to work after medical/family leave with the option of working reduced hours for a limited period of time without having to apply or request permission. More importantly, returning attorneys are given support to make sure they can successfully ramp back up to their full practice levels… Read more

New Survey Shows Major US Law Firms Implementing Formal Flex Policies

WASHINGTON, DC, November 12, 2014 — More than 90 percent of the law firms surveyed in the just released 2014 Flexibility Benchmarking Survey Report from the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) are implementing formal flexibility policies. The survey found that participating firms have a formal policy that covers one or more of the following types of flexibility: reduced hours schedules, telecommuting, flexible start/end times, annualized hours, and job sharing. More firms allow lawyers to work flexibly on an ad hoc basis.

The report also found that actual flexible work usage was much less common, with flex lawyers constituting approximately 13 percent of lawyers at all participant firms. Read more

Top 10 Rainmaker Best Practices for Associates

November 2014

Featuring — Tasneem Goodman, Partner, Akina Corporation

Market conditions have brought the legal profession to the realization that success in a law firm depends, at least in part, on all attorneys’ — including associates — ability to develop business. Business development skills cannot magically be switched on once an attorney reaches partnership.  Just as associates’ and their firms’ expectations have changed around business development, both parties have a role to play in advancing the skills they need to become successful rainmakers.

Tasneem will share the fundamentals of business development, as well as the individual strategies associates can use and organizational solutions firms can implement to sow the seeds for rainmaking.

Highlights from the Alliance’s 2014 Flex Success™ Leadership Institute

On October 23 & 24, 2014, the Alliance held its inaugural Flex Success™ Leadership Institute for senior attorneys, of counsel, and junior partners working a flex or reduced hours schedule.  It was an incredible event with open and honest conversations between the faculty presenters and attendees on issues including business development, mindset and grit, interrupting flex stigma, and personal success stories from previous Flex Success™ Honorees.  Here are some highlights of the knowledge that was passed on:

Meg Milroy, Assistant General Counsel, Verizon: Self-document your successes; you never know if your manager will be there next review time.

Lisa Horowitz, Founder & Principal Advisor, Attorney Talent Strategy Group: Don’t be afraid to set boundaries that work within your schedule — being gritty also means being strategic. Read more