Survey Finds Positive Trends in Law Firm Flexibility, However Bias Continues to Impede Usage

WASHINGTON, DC, March 22, 2017 — While the availability of flexible work arrangements has increased in law firms, new research released by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (“the Alliance”) suggests that not all lawyers and staff are using the policies. The third annual Law Firm Flexibility Benchmarking Survey, released today, examines the availability and usage of flexible work policies in large U.S. law firms.

The survey found that while 26 of 28 participating firms (93 percent) have a formal written flexible work policy, the attorney usage rates remain at or below 8.8 percent for reduced hours, flexible start and end times, telecommuting, annualized hours, and job sharing. Detailed information is available in the report’s Executive Summary.

“While we are optimistic about the growing number of major U.S. law firms that have a formal flexible work policy, the usage rates are a better indicator of a culture that truly supports flex,” said Manar Morales, President & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. “For a flexibility policy to be successful it must be de-gendered, de-parented, de-stigmatized, and integrated into the cultural norms of an organization. Otherwise many employees, diverse individuals in particular, often face bias and stigma related to working flexibly,” she added. “Our vision for the future is an industry where all professionals are comfortable working flexibly and are confident that they are not impeding their career by doing so.”

Some other highlights from the report include:

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Miller & Chevalier Chartered Welcomed As Newest Member of the Alliance

We are pleased to welcome Miller & Chevalier Chartered as the newest member of the Alliance! The firm joins a community of over 55 leading organizations that are implementing innovative solutions to promote inclusive and flexible work cultures.

Miller & Chevalier

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Join Us Thursday to Learn How to Create a More Inclusive Culture

As we count down the days to our annual conference on Thursday, we’re excited to hear from so many impressive leaders about their roles in diversity and flexibility in their organizations. The conference is intentionally designed to provide attendees with a forum to learn from others, share best practices, and ask questions of and interact with presenters. While our morning panel will provide a corporate perspective, our 2:00pm panel is devoted to the law firm point of view. We’ll hear from four highly-effective and knowledgeable law firm Chairs who will share their insights on how they are leading their firms in diversity and flexibility.

Yvette McGee Brown, Partner-in-Charge of Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement at Jones Day (our hosts for the day) will be moderating the panel and will ask a multitude of questions ranging from, “How are you holding partners accountable for their commitment to diversity?” to “How are you engaging clients and how are clients driving the change at your firm?” The Chairs might also be asked, “What systems are in place to maintain your diversity and flexibility initiatives?” Or “How has flexibility impacted your ability to recruit and retain top talent?”

The panel includes Matt Keen, Managing Shareholder, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.; Kim Koopersmith, Chairperson, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Jami Wintz McKeon, Chair, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; and Terry Pritchard, Chair, Bryan Cave LLP. This impressive group is ready to answer your questions and help you create a more inclusive culture. We encourage you to bring your questions!

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Celebrating the Evolution of the Flex Culture

Note: This post was first published on March 7, 2017 on 1 Million For Work Flexibility’s blog. 1MFWF is the first national initiative bringing people together to create a collective voice in support of work flexibility, and the Alliance is a supporting organization. Thank you to 1MFWF for allowing us to share our news about our 2017 Flex Awards!

We at the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance are optimistic about the gradual cultural change towards embracing flexibility taking place in many U.S. corporations and firms. Each year at our annual conference we celebrate individual and organizational successes that truly demonstrate how flexibility can positively influence the way we work and live without impacting career development and financial success.

This year’s conference is entitled Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture, and we hope our attendees will leave inspired about the future of flex. We have structured the conference to arm attendees with concrete tips on how to better weave flexibility into their organization’s culture and, in so doing, foster a more diverse and inclusive team. Please join us on March 16 in Washington, DC.

This year we’re presenting three awards to individuals and organizations leading the way in this flex revolution…

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Join Us Next Thursday to Hear From Different Industries With Shared Diversity Goals

We hope you’ll be joining us next Thursday, March 16, for our annual conference, Diversity + Flexibility = An Evolving Culture, at Jones Day in Washington, DC. Please register now if you haven’t already! We know you’ll be impressed by the wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise presented by executives representing a myriad of industries.

In particular, our 10:30am session, Corporate America Making Cultural Change, promises to be an extraordinary presentation by senior executives from Booz Allen Hamilton, Morgan Stanley, Verizon, and Wal-Mart. The panelists will provide their personal perspectives on the change in American business towards a more inclusive and diverse culture. They’ll highlight the challenges, as well as the opportunities, they see day to day in their offices. They’ll also explain how they as leaders are helping to influence change within their companies and with their suppliers and professional services firms.

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Cooley LLP Welcomed As Newest Member of the Alliance

We are pleased to welcome Cooley LLP as the newest member of the Alliance! The firm joins a community of over 55 leading organizations that are implementing innovative solutions to promote inclusive and flexible work cultures.

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