Not only is this Philadelphia-based firm committed to allowing each lawyer to create her own career path to success through flexible work arrangements, but also, last year, Drinker Biddle converted from a traditional associate structure to a competency-based levels structure. With the former system, associates worked hard and were rewarded, but without any guarantee of communication regarding their progression. Under the new levels structure, however, there is full transparency about what associates are expected to achieve in order to advance. And transparency and flexibility seem to work for women: They reside on every firm committee, with several women on the two most important—management and allocation. One of the firm’s largest rainmakers is a woman, and the headquarters office is managed by a female partner.

Female Equity Partners 14%
Female Nonequity Partners 30%
Lawyers Working Reduced Hours 10%