Press Releases

 

New Survey Shows Promising Trends in Law Firms’ Commitment To Flexible Work Schedules

WASHINGTON, DC: February 9, 2016 – A new report released by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) shows an uptick in the share of law firms that have formalized flexible work policies.  The Alliance’s 2015 Flexibility Benchmarking Survey Report reveals that virtually all – 92 percent – of participating firms have formal, written flexible work policies that include one or more of the following: reduced hours schedules, telecommuting, flexible start/end times, annualized hours, or job sharing. Reduced hour schedules are the most common offered and used type of flexibility, with reduced hours lawyers making up just over eight percent of lawyers at participant firms with a reduced hours policy. This statistic tracks the 2014 survey results. Read more

Share of Women Among New Partners Rebounds

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Releases Its Annual New Partner Report

WASHINGTON, DC, November 9, 2015 — Women constitute over one-third of 2015 new partner classes in the U.S. offices of the nation’s major law firms, according to data collected by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”). At 34.4 percent, the share of women among new partner classes has climbed over two percentage points from last year (32 percent in 2014), and meets the figure from 2013. Key findings from the report include: Read more

What Makes Great Leaders in the Law

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Announces the 2015 Flex Leader and Flex Success™ Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC, March 12, 2015 – Confidence, motivation, communication, and honesty – all traits we look for in a leader. A truly great leader exhibits not only these traits, but also excels at leading by example through inspiration, commitment, creativity, and flexibility. The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”), a think tank dedicated to creating work environments centered on inclusion and innovative thought leadership, is proud to partner with these leaders and their organizations to promote holistic flexibility in the legal profession. Read more

Percentage of Women Among New Partners Falls After a Five-Year High

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Releases Its Annual New Partner Report
Alliance member firms outpace national average of women promoted to partnership

WASHINGTON, DC, December 4, 2014 — The share of women among new partner classes at major US law firms declined by two percentage points in the last year. Thirty-two percent of attorneys promoted to partnership in 2014 were women, as compared to 34 percent in 2013, according to data collected by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”). Among Alliance member firms, the figure is slightly higher, with women constituting 32.7 percent of new partner classes. 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

Holland & Hart’s New Chair Shatters the Flex Ceiling

WASHINGTON, DC, February 20, 2014 — Building on the momentum of the Flex Success™ Award, the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) is awarding its inaugural Flex Leader Award to recognize a General Counsel or Chair of a law firm who is moving his or her organization toward a more inclusive workplace through flexibility. Research shows that when we hear the word “leader,” we picture a man. Although this bias slows the advancement of women, more women are leading institutions, corporations, and law firms today than ever before. This year’s honoree, Liz Sharrer, Chair of Holland & Hart LLP, is a pioneer that embodies every aspect of what the Award seeks to recognize and is shattering biases by advocating for the opportunities to work a reduced hours or a flex schedule while being a highly integrated member of a major law firm. Read more

Flex Partners Who Inspire

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Announces the 2014 Flex Success™ Honorees

WASHINGTON, DC, February 18, 2014 — To make partner in a law firm is an amazing accomplishment; to make partner while working a reduced hours schedule is inspirational. The 2014 Flex Success™ Award Honorees prove that working a reduced hours schedule in the law does not preclude incredible professional success. Each year, the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”) recognizes a partner working a reduced hours schedule and the client that is integral to making workplace flexibility a reality. The Alliance is pleased to announce the two attorney/client honorees for 2014: Julia E. Markley of Perkins Coie LLP (Portland, OR) and her client, Laura E. Proctor, Associate General Counsel of Louisiana-Pacific Corporation; and Victoria Lee of DLA Piper (Silicon Valley, CA) and her client Karen M. McGee, General Counsel and Privacy Officer at ID Analytics, Inc. Read more

Share of Women Among New Partners Grows Incrementally

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance Releases Its Annual New Partner Report

WASHINGTON, DC, October 30, 2013 — The share of women among new partner classes at major law firms gained only one percentage point in the last year. Thirty-four percent of attorneys promoted to the partnership in 2013 were women, as compared to 33 percent in 2012, according to data collected by the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (the “Alliance”).

The Alliance’s New Partner Report compiles data from announcements and other self-reported sources from law firms about the attorneys promoted partnership in 2013. Data for over 100 of the nation’s largest law firms are detailed in the report, including members of the Alliance and many among the The American Lawyer 100 (AmLaw 100) ranks. 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