Inspired by groundwork laid in 1953 by Irene Scott, the first female partner of this Minneapolis-based law firm, generations of women have gone on to big careers here. Since January 2011, they’ve made up 60% of its new attorney hires, and they now fill 31% of all leadership roles, also occupying two of the nine positions on the board of directors. Formal mentoring and motivational peer-group meetings accelerate their progress, while a new women’s initiative, led by female partners, spotlights their talent. Attorneys can reduce their weekly hours by as much as 40% to accommodate their lives (and 9% of women do); thanks to a new policy change, associates can also speed up or slow down their advancement to partner by several years. All parents can access free backup child care, either at a near-site center (in Minneapolis) or through a national service (firmwide).

Female Equity Partners 19%

Female Nonequity Partners 47%

Lawyers Working Reduced Hours 9%

Pictured: Elizabeth Wiet Reutter with her kids.