Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn

It's a Fact!
Boasts a buddy system that assigns a junior attorney to associates to answer any question, no matter how “dumb.”
What We Love

This Detroit-based firm continues to invest in attracting and supporting women lawyers. The firm has established a formal process for requesting and monitoring alternative work schedules. Last year, both lawyers promoted to equity partner were women. The five-office firm recently retained a nationally renowned consultant to analyze its diversity practices and identify areas of improvement. As a result, the firm completely reworked its associate and nonequity partner evaluation process. Evaluations are now based on identified core competencies and clearly establish the benchmark goals required to become equity partner. The firm boasts a wide array of support networks—from affinity groups organized around common interests (a few: parents; wine; arts; cultural diversity) to a buddy system that assigns a junior attorney to associates to answer any question, no matter how “dumb.”

Female Equity Partners 17%

Female Nonequity Partners 35%

Lawyers Working Reduced Hours 9%

It's a Fact!

A full 50% of their associates are women.

What We Love

Partner Marcia Bennett Boyce faced two life-altering challenges last year: the birth of her first child and a move to a new state for her husband’s job. One thing she didn’t have to worry about, however, was her job. The firm allowed her to work fulltime out of her home office once she returned from maternity leave. Indeed, flexibility is ingrained in the culture of this Detroit-based law firm: From 2004 to 2008, 105 lawyers worked reduced hours, including four women who were promoted to equity partner.

Female equity partners: 20%

Female nonequity partners: 26%

Female counsel: 36%

Female associates: 50%

Female lawyers promoted to nonequity partner, 2004–2008: 33%

Female lawyers promoted to equity partner, 2004–2008: 38%

Lawyers working reduced hours: 9%

Lawyers working reduced hours, 2004–2008: 9%

Weeks paid maternity leave: 12

Weeks paid paternity leave: n/a

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: n/a

Offer support groups for reduced-hours lawyers?: Yes