Drinker Biddle & Reath

It's a Fact!
Women reside on every firm committee, and there are several women on the two most important, management and allocation.
What We Love

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%

It's a Fact!

46% of their female lawyers were promoted to equity partner between 2004–2008

What We Love

The flextime policy here, updated last year, explains flex as “the ability to work wherever, whenever, for whatever reason”—opening the door for any lawyer to pursue a flexible schedule. The Philadelphia-based firm also appointed a “part-time czar,” who will oversee the program in its 12 offices across the country and act as a proponent for reduced-hours lawyers. The changes were led by a thriving women’s committee, which is charged with providing to management specific steps to take to help retain women.

Female equity partners: 14%

Female nonequity partners: 39%

Female counsel: 62%

Female associates: 47%

Female lawyers promoted to nonequity partner, 2004–2008: 31%

Female lawyers promoted to equity partner, 2004–2008: 46%

Lawyers working reduced hours: 9%

Lawyers working reduced hours, 2004–2008: 8%

Weeks paid maternity leave: 12

Weeks paid paternity leave: 12

Weeks paid adoption leave: 12

Offer phase-back program for new moms?: Yes

Offer reentry program for lawyer moms?: Yes

Offer formal flextime program for associates & counsel?: Yes

Lawyers working flextime schedule: 4%

Offer support groups for reduced-hours lawyers?: Yes