Dorsey & Whitney

It's a Fact!
Of the firm’s 43 newly admitted partners in the past three years, 22 were women.
What We Love

Women are thriving across the board at this 100-year-old Minneapolis-based firm, which boasts a female managing partner—one of only a handful of women in the country leading top law practices. Of the firm’s 43 newly admitted partners in the past three years, 22 were women. A key factor in recruiting and retaining women lawyers is the significant number of women associates who have been promoted to partner in recent years. All of this translates to more effective role models for the firm’s younger women lawyers. The firm, which has 13 offices nationwide, has created a methodology to track the allocation of work to its female lawyers and lawyers of color to ensure they are receiving the work opportunities necessary to build expertise. Bonuses are awarded for partners’ contributions to diversity efforts.

Female Equity Partners 19%
Female Nonequity Partners 23%
Lawyers Working Reduced Hours 13%

It's a Fact!

Efforts to retain talented attorneys start as soon as a new associate comes on board.

What We Love

Efforts to retain talented attorneys start as soon as a new associate comes on board. Last year, this Minneapolis-based firm, which has 13 offices nationwide, initiated a procedure that charges diversity partners, department heads and office heads with monitoring and reviewing female and multicultural associates’ work assignments. The Diversity Advisor program helps women advance by pairing senior female associates with partners from another practice area, who can give a different perspective on the firm.

Female equity partners: 17%

Female nonequity partners: 19%

Female counsel: 37%

Female lawyers promoted to nonequity partner, 2004–2008: 53%

Female lawyers promoted to equity partner, 2004–2008: 19%

Lawyers working reduced hours: 13%

Lawyers working reduced hours, 2004–2008: 8%

Weeks paid maternity leave: 12

Weeks paid paternity leave: 6

Weeks paid adoption leave: 6

Offer phase-back program for new moms?: No

Offer reentry program for lawyer moms?: No

Offer formal flextime program for associates & counsel?: Yes

Lawyers working flextime schedule: 4%

Offer support groups for reduced-hours lawyers?: Yes