The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance is a think tank dedicated to creating work environments centered on inclusion and innovative thought leadership. The Alliance empowers organizations with the tools necessary for advancing women, fostering flexibility, and retaining top talent.
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Action Step – Asking the Right Questions:Surveying Your Outside Counsel About Diversity & Flexibility
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.
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS:
SURVEYING YOUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL ABOUT DIVERSITY & FLEXIBILITY
It has been said that “what gets measured, gets done.” For corporate law departments that understand the value a diverse team brings to solving complex problems, surveying outside counsel about diversity is a powerful tool for securing the best talent on their matters. Given the connection between attorney control over when, where, and how they work and retaining top, diverse talent, the surveys must have key elements, including questions about flexible work in order to have the most impact. Here are a few more principal considerations and features of a well-crafted diversity survey…
Action Step – Recruit Men With Flexible Work
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.
RECRUIT MEN WITH FLEXIBLE WORK
Law students talk to each other about their law firm interview experiences: what they were asked; what insights they gained into the firm; and what the firm seems to be looking for. As they compare notes, a pattern might emerge; some employers tell female recruits – but not male recruits – about the firm’s flexible work programs. Female recruits often express disbelief, and some take offense at the assumptions the firm is making about them. However, they aren’t the only ones. Male recruits have also been put off by the assumptions firm’s make about them and their interests…
Action Step – Hold Your Partners Accountable for Supporting Flexible Lawyers
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.
HOLD YOUR PARTNERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SUPPORTING FLEXIBLE LAWYERS
No matter how carefully crafted, a flexible work program will fail unless the firm’s partners make it work on a daily basis. Partners control lawyers’ assignments, opportunities, access to information, evaluations, compensation, and promotion – which means they can undo even the best flexible work program through bias, inattention, or worse, in how they treat lawyers who work flexible schedules. It is essential that partners be invested in making flexibility work…